2023 Long Island election results: Ed Romaine is the next Suffolk County executive
Although there are no federal races on the ballot this year, Long Islanders had a chance to make decisions on municipal leadership, statewide ballot measures and more. Check here for live updates and results.
Long Islanders overwhelmingly elected Republicans to serve as their town supervisors
Republican Dan Panico was elected Brookhaven Town supervisor. He’ll face a number of environmental challenges in Long Island’s largest town, including the closure of the controversial Brookhaven Landfill.
He replaces Ed Romaine, who has been elected Suffolk County executive.
Republicans will also serve as town supervisors in Islip and Smithtown.
In Nassau County, voters re-elected incumbents, who are also Republicans — Joseph Saladino in Oyster Bay, Don Clavin in Hempstead and Jennifer DeSena in North Hempstead.
Incumbent Republican Pamela Panzenbeck will again serve as mayor of the City of Glen Cove.
Democrats will lead towns on eastern Long Island, including Al Krupski in Southold, who left his long-held position as a county legislator to run. Riverhead will remain Republican with town board member Tim Hubbard elected supervisor.
Republicans remain in control of Suffolk County Legislature
Republicans will continue to hold the majority in the Suffolk County Legislature, as well as new support having flipped the Suffolk County Executive from blue to red.
The red wave has swept over Suffolk County as Republicans maintain their majority hold in the legislature. All 18 seats were up for grabs and Republicans hoped to increase their majority to one more seat to have a super-majority of 12-6 — meaning they’d be essentially veto-proof.
Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey won reelection against opponent Edward Buturla in Lindenhurst. McCaffrey said Republicans maintaining the majority means continuing work to build more sewers, enhancing public safety and cutting county fees.
“There's so many things that we can do in this county right now to make those possible that we really can't wait to get going on,” McCaffrey said.
Ed Romaine’s victory against Democrat Dave Calone, in the race for Suffolk County Executive, cements the party's rule over the county. Republicans now have control of all countywide seats on Long Island.
Republican Dan Panico elected Brookhaven Town Supervisor
Dan Panico of Center Moriches will lead New York’s largest town, after serving as a town council member since 2010. Panico is also the Deputy Supervisor to Ed Romaine, who left the position open to run for Suffolk County executive.
Democratic challenger Lillian Clayman of Port Jefferson was a three-term mayor of Hamden, Connecticut.
Panico will face a number of environmental challenges as supervisor, including the closure of Brookhaven Landfill. He shared in an interview with News 12, that he hopes the state Department of Environmental Conservation can come up with a regional plan for waste removal.
“Recycling works when there are markets for the commodities. If there are no commodities for the recycled items, they’re just going to pile up to the heavens.”
Panico had the endorsements of the Sierra Club, and the New York League of Conservation voters for his support of clean energy solutions and preservation of open space.
Ed Romaine is the next Suffolk County executive
Ed Romaine is the next Suffolk County executive, flipping the last major seat on Long Island for Republicans.
"I intend to bring all of Suffolk together for a common sense agenda that moves us forward, that keeps our taxes low, that keeps us affordable,” Romaine said in his victory speech in Patchogue. “That makes sure that we're safer and that all law enforcement has the tools they need to do the job.”
Romaine has pledged to fill open positions in the county and its police department, cut county taxes and bolster cybersecurity to keep government computers safe after last year's ransomware attack.
He is a longtime public servant. A former history teacher, the 76-year-old entered politics more than two decades ago serving as Suffolk County Clerk for 16 years before running for legislator.
In 2012, Romaine won a special election and several terms since to lead New York’s largest town as Brookhaven Town Supervisor. His tenure in office has been keeping property taxes under the state’s 2% cap, affordable housing for volunteer first responders and solar and offshore wind projects that bring jobs and millions of dollars in community host benefits.
Now, Romaine said he’s ready to lead Suffolk.
“We all need to be together to move this county forward — to change what is happening now for the better,” Romaine said.
Romaine lost the 2003 Suffolk County executive race to fiscally conservative Democrat Steven Levy, ending the GOP’s command over eastern Long Island.
Democratic candidate Dave Calone conceded the race around 11:30 p.m. The final tally left him short by almost 40,000 votes.
"Tonight is obviously not the outcome we were hoping for," he told supporters at IBEW Local 1049 in Holtsville. "But the work is just beginning. I promise to continue working with all of you as we move and push meaningful solutions that affect the lives and people of Suffolk County. We will move Suffolk County forward."
AP calls the Suffolk County executive race for Ed Romaine
The Associated Press has called the Suffolk County executive race for Republican Ed Romaine.
His opponent Dave Calone addressed a crowd of his supporters at 11:30 p.m. to concede.
Lee Zeldin, 2022 NY gubernatorial candidate, hopes for “red wave” for county executive race
Lee Zeldin, the former Long Island congressman who left office in a failed bid for New York governor last year, hopes to see a “red wave” come through for Ed Romain, the Republican candidate for Suffolk County executive.
“As the results are starting to come in, our friend Ed Romaine will start to take the lead,” Zeldin said. “Big Dem areas are voting in county legislatures, mayors and town supervisors in all different parts of New York state.”
While a red wave did not ride Zeldin to victory, losing to Gov. Kathy Hochul last year, GOP wins have soaked Democrats from key positions in Nassau and Suffolk County since the 2020 presidential race. Despite the loss, Zeldin won about 60% of the vote in Suffolk County.
- In 2021, Republican Bruce Blakeman beat Democratic incumbent Laura Curran for Nassau County executive.
- In 2022, former State Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) lost to Republican Anne Donnelly for Nassau County District Attorney.
- Incumbent Democrat Tim Sini was also routed from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office by Republican Ray Tierny last year.
- Republicans and conservatives have also cemented 12 of 18 seats in the Suffolk County Legislature.
“That's because the Democrats have controlled this state and one party rule and had until we won a majority for the first time in the legislature,” said Jesse Garcia, the chair of the Suffolk County Republican Party. “We, Republicans, believe in freedom, the liberties of our people. We believe in self-governance and self-rule. We believe in smaller government, and we believe in law enforcement.”
Out of more than 1 million registered voters in the county, Democrats outnumber Republicans 34%–31%, according to the county Board of Elections as of Nov. 1.
Turnout is expected to be up to 30% of voters, according to Suffolk GOP estimates. “I don't think that any Democrat in this county cannot run away from the record of their party,” Garcia said.
County executive candidate Dave Calone and his supporters gather as results roll in
About 300 supporters of Dave Calone have gathered at the IBEW Local 1049 in Holtsville to wait for election results to begin rolling in. The Democratic candidate for Suffolk County executive is expected to join them soon.
Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg laid out what’s at stake in the race.
“Having open government for everybody to take part, having a representative government, and having folks in office who are open to what the community is saying,” Richberg said. “Considering the work we’ve been doing on police reform, investing in our communities, making sure the opioid funding is going to the right agencies — I believe those are all things that are at stake.”
As of 10:20pm, the Suffolk County Board of Elections has not provided any election results.