By Dan Murphy
The hottest election race in Westchester County for 2020 is the State Senate contest between former County Executive Rob Astorino and State Senator Peter Harckham. The two are competing to represent the residents of the 40th Senate District (which includes most of Northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties) for the next two years.
Both have flooded the voters with cable TV ads and enough mailings that might help the Post Office get out of its deficit. Harckham is using the same playbook that County Executive George Latimer used to beat Astorino in 2017, which is to tie Astorino to President Donald Trump as closely as possible.
Astorino is trying to label Sen. Harckham as too progressive for the district, calling attention to Bail Reform, which Harckham co-authored, a plan to raise taxes on New Yorkers, and most recently some comments that Harckham made about opposition to BLM.
While in Peekskill for a rally, Harckham said “There are places in my district; there would be angry counter protesters across the street and muscle cars would be driving by revving their engines, vulgar slogans, signs we have people who would call these fine young men anarchists,” said Harckham, who was referring to the opposition that some have to BLM and their support for police.
“Peter Harckham seems to believe that his constituents are bigots, and, frankly, I find that outrageous,” Mr. Astorino said. “I’ve spent my entire life in this area and I’m genuinely perplexed: the people and families I’ve encountered are good, hard-working, and kind. Exactly which parts of this district are you talking about, Mr. Harckham? That’s the question he now needs to answer.”
Astorino continues to contrast his views on law enforcement to those of Harckham’s. “Peter Harckham wrote the “No Cash Bail” law that is wreaking havoc in our communities and causing crime to spike. Under Harckham’s radical law, individuals arrested for crimes such as manslaughter, assault, stalking, arson, torturing animals, domestic violence, and child pornography are quickly released with no cash bail and no guarantee they’ll ever return for trial. I’ve been endorsed by over 30 police unions because I will fight to repeal this dangerous law and because I’ll work to invest in our police and not defund them.”
Astorino is also trying to use higher taxes as a campaign issue, much in the same way he used it to be elected twice as Westchester County Executive. “Any guess where New York landed on this ranking of the best states for the middle class? DEAD LAST. It’s why our families and neighbors have been fleeing the state in record numbers for the past decade. And that exodus will accelerate if we do what my opponent Peter Harckham wants to do – raise taxes. My opponent also voted to eliminate the property tax rebate checks. Talk about sticking it to the middle class. As State Senator, I’ll fight for the middle class by restoring the property tax rebate checks, by giving parents more choice and control over their child’s education and by cutting taxes (not raising them) and regulations to jumpstart our economy. “
Harckham has been just as tough on Astorino, claiming that he has been silent on denouncing white supremacists, (just like Trump was accused of), asking Astorino to release his tax returns, (just like Trump has been asked to do) and criticizing Astorino’s ties to the NRA in mailings, and his pro-life views.
“Americans were recommitted to protecting reproductive rights after the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And they should be. Reproductive rights and access to healthcare are under fire due to the possible appointment of a conservative justice. In New York, the legislature has taken enormous steps to protect someone’s right to choose. My opponent wants to roll many of these measures back. It’s imperative to vote blue across the board to ensure these rights are not lost,” said Harckham.
On gun control, Harckham said, “As a gun owner myself, I understand the balance of gun ownership, while keeping families and children safe. I’m proud to have passed common sense gun laws in my time as a Senator. These laws will proactively prevent senseless gun violence that has plagued the country, but they don’t infringe on people’s Second Amendment rights.”
The Harckham campaign also featured an endorsement from a Putnam County republican that was supporting his campaign. “As a Freshman Senator, Harckham got $6 Million for the Mahopac schools, money that they had owed the state. Without his help, you and I would have to had to pay it. Yes, I support Senator Harckham, and I have supported republicans over the years. But in this one case Sen. Harckham delivers. “said Robert Buckley a former member of the Putnam County Republican Committee.
While the 40th Senate district has a slightly republican tilt which voted for President Trump in 2016, it has a democratic Senator in Harckham. Four years after Trump won the district, and two years after Harckham narrowly defeated former Senator Terrence Murphy, the question now becomes, will Trump win the district again, and will those same Trump voters also vote for Astorino?
This contest, perhaps like the Presidential race on election night, may be too close to call and may require the counting of absentee ballots is the days after Nov. 3. This senate race may also be the most expensive in Westchester state senate history. The state senate race between democrat Senator George Latimer and republican challenger Bob Cohen cost both campaigns and their parties, $5 Million.
