By Dan Murphy
On November 8, voters in Westchester County will be electing their representatives for Congress, State Senate, Assembly, State Supreme Court, and some local offices. We spoke with the Chairs of the Westchester Democratic Party and Westchester Republican Party to get their thoughts on the upcoming elections.
Out of the 16 Westchester races for Congress (3), State Senate (5) and Assembly (8), we have identified three races that county political observers from both parties view as competitive. They are:
Congress -18th District, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Democrat -Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney vs Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler.
State Senate -40th District-Democrat Sen. Peter Harckham vs Republican Gina Arena
Assembly -90th District-Democrat Assemblyman Nader Sayegh vs Yonkers
Councilman Mike Breen.
We then spoke to the Chairs of the Westchester Republican and Westchester Democratic Parties to get there take.
Westchester GOP Chair Doug Colety said, “I feel good about all of our candidates, who are all working hard and campaigning and getting good responses to residents who are fed up with crime and rising costs from inflation. I think all of the elections in Westchester are on the table in November, and we are expecting an overwhelming Red Wave in Westchester. I’m excited about all of our candidates and their chances in November.”
Westchester Democratic Chair Suzanne Berger, obviously, gave us a different view. “I don’t think a Red Wave is possible in Westchester. I understand that republicans have put up a number of candidates on the ballot in the hopes that the unexpected happens. And we should have competitive elections in our democracy, with each candidate speaking their piece.
“But I think most democrats and unaffiliated voters in Westchester aren’t buying the republican MAGA brand these days. I don’t see a Red Wave here,” said Berger, who added that the Maloney -Lawler race, and the Harckham -Arena race includes Putnam and Dutchess counties.
Chair Berger also added that it is important for democrats in Westchester to vote for down ballot candidates, including State Supreme Court and local office elections in Rye and Cortland. “It’s important that democrats pay attention to all of the elections this year. For the first time in recent memory, republicans have put up 7 judicial candidates for State Supreme Court(for seven open seats). If there is one thing we have learned, it’s that judges are critical to preserving our liberties, liberties that we thought we had for the last 50 years.
“I don’t think Westchester voters are buying what they are selling. They know crime is down in Westchester, it’s a wedge issue. They know they support a women’s right to choose. And they support sensible gun regulations. That’s what democrats are doing-they are governing, and keeping taxes under control, while the republicans are selling fear,” said Berger, who predicted that Governor Kathy Hochul will win Westchester “by double digits.”
The republicans three best hopes in November all come in races that were once held by republicans. Congressman Maloney defeated Rep. Nan Hayworth in 2014. State Senator Peter Harckham defeated Sen. Terrence Murphy in 2018, and Assemblyman Nader Sayegh’s 90th Assembly District was held by Mike Spano before he switched parties in 2007. “I think republican voters and independent voters do not support what President Biden and Governor Hochul are doing, and I think they will turn out in November,” said one Eastchester republican.
A Sound Shore Democrat told us, “I think Westchester is too overwhelmingly democratic for most republicans to win anywhere. It’s almost baked into the results before the election happens. When you have to go back more than 10 years to point to a former republican in that office. I think we will win them all.”
Note: We did not mention the race for Assembly in the 94th District, in northern Westchester and Putnam County. Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater is running against democrat Kathleen Valletta. Slater is said to be way ahead in this republican district, but we hope to report on this race before election day.
