Brooks, Venditto knotted in 8th Senate District

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The race in the 8th Senatorial District has come down to a mere 33 votes, according to the latest numbers from the Nassau and Suffolk County boards of elections.

Incumbent Republican State Sen. Michael Venditto had 64,466 votes to challenger John Brooks’ 64,499 as the Herald went to press on Monday.

According to election officials, the results remain unofficial until all absentee ballots and voter affidavits are counted, which could take several more days.

The Brooks for State Senate Facebook page declared victory for Brooks on Nov. 9, stating, “We did it! Thank you for entrusting me with the task of being your next state Senator.”

Lisa Tyson, president of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, said she believed the election’s final results would favor Brooks.

“I hear that [33 votes] is how it is. I think he has a good chance of keeping that lead or expanding that lead after all the absentee ballots are counted,” Tyson said.

Brooks told the Herald in the past that he was running for the State Senate to fix aspects of the government that, in his view, are broken.

Venditto, who was elected to the State Senate in 2014, said he hoped to give all New Yorkers the opportunity to succeed.

Traditionally, Republicans have won the 8th District with more than 60 percent of the vote. This year, however, Venditto’s father, John, who is also the Oyster Bay town supervisor, is facing federal corruption charges, along with County Executive Ed Mangano and Mangano’s wife, Linda.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

Representatives of Brooks and Venditto could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 8th Senate District includes all or parts of Baldwin, Bellmore, Freeport, Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh.