State Senator Pete Harckham
Yorktown Councilman Sergio Esposito
By Dan Murphy
We have been trying to find a competitive race in Westchester County for State Senate and Assembly. There are very few options, but we hope to print and post all of the challengers on the ballot on Nov. 3, most of who are republicans, with most elected officials in Westchester serving as democrats.
The one race that always comes on our radar is our State Senate district 40, currently held by Senator Pete Harckham. To his credit, Harckham has held onto the seat after defeating incumbent Sen. Terrence Murphy and after facing challenges from former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.
Harckham has proved himself again and again, but because the district includes parts of Republican-rich Putnam County, it is viewed as one of the most competitive state senate races in our area.
This year Harckham’s opponent is Yorktown Councilman Sergio Esposito. Esposito is also a mainstay at the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, which has given him the opportunity to meet and greet thousands of voters in this district over the years.
Esposito is campaigning hard and has enough resources to flood my mailbox with pieces against Harckham. One issue being underscored by Esposito is the issue of criminal migrants, and the case of Sheridan Gorman, a Yorktown HS grad who was killed in Chicago while attending college.
But Harckham is also attacking Esposito in mailings hitting our box, along with dozens of pieces from Cait Conley and Mike Lawler.
Harckham has focused on Esposito’s unpopular vote to raise Yorktown property taxes by 6%.
The State Democratic Senate Committee is pouring an unusual amount of campaign funds into SD-40. They have created a website, therealsergioesposito. com, and have characterized him as an extremist who is making affordability worse in Westchester.
Are the attacks against Esposito based on cautious fear this election? Or does the NYSDC have unlimited resources and only a few competitive races, like this one, to spend in?
Harckham has built his Senate career on his environmental record, sustainability, infrastructure investments, public education funding, and expanding access to healthcare and community-based services.
Esposito’s campaign focuses heavily on economic growth, reducing state tax burdens, addressing affordability concerns for local residents, and supporting public safety initiatives.
Turnout will be high in this Senate district because of the other races also on the ballot. In addition to the Governor’s race, Kathy Hochul vs Bruce Blakeman, there is also the nationally covered Congressional race in NY-17 between Mike Lawler and Cait Conley.
This race will be competitive if you believe the polling that says Blakeman is as close to Hochul as Lee Zeldin was four years ago, 53%-47%.
Other polls have Hochul with a double-digit lead.
The Congressional race between Lawler and Conley is too close to call.
If you have another election race that deserves attention, email us at dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com