Monday, October 26, 2026
Jarett Gandolfo, a Republican who has served in the Assembly since 2020, is seeking the 8th State Senate District seat currently held by State Sen. Alexis Weik, who is not running re-election. His opponent is Democrat Joshua James Taveras.
The district includes portions of the towns of Babylon and Islip, as well as parts of the towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead.
Before being elected to the Assembly, Gandolfo, 36, worked for Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (now Rep. Garbarino) as his chief of staff. Gandolfo also said his blue-collar upbringing also shaped his approach to public service.
His parents instilled a strong work ethic, he said, and he worked at his grandfather’s window treatment shop. While in school, he also worked as a supermarket cashier and warehouse delivery driver.
“When the current sitting senator, Alexis Weik, announced that she wasn’t seeking re-election, I was immediately interested,” Gandolfo said. “I have really enjoyed serving in the Assembly, but I felt the Senate gives me an opportunity to represent a larger area of the South Shore and make more of an impact in state government.”
Gandolfo said he is particularly proud of securing money for the Bayport-Blue Point School District’s Student Wellness Center, when in the Assembly. Mental health advocacy, he said, would remain a priority, if elected.
“It’s an issue that has been neglected, I think, for a long time,” he said. “Anything we can do to increase access to mental health care is a positive step.”
Making Long Island more affordable is also at the top of Gandolfo’s agenda. As a father of two young children, he said he understands the financial pressures created by property taxes, housing and childcare.
“At the height of our child care needs, two children going to daycare, it was costing us over $3,000 extra a month,” he said. “It’s a cost you don’t necessarily think of when you’re going to have a family.”
Gandolfo said he has introduced legislation aimed at reducing childcare costs, including a proposal requiring the state to consider regional cost-of-living differences in child care subsidy programs.
He is also developing a proposal that would provide tax credits to families with prekindergarten-age children to reimburse up to 50 percent of child care costs when using licensed providers. Gandolfo said he favors that approach over the state’s planned expansion of universal pre-K, citing concerns about available space and staffing.
Public safety is another priority. Gandolfo said he wants to work with police and other experts to ensure departments have the resources needed to keep communities safe.
Long Island’s environment and quality of life are also among his concerns. He said clean bays, waterways and beaches are essential to the region.
“We have to understand that if we harm our aquifer, the costs will not only be financial, but it will affect public health,” he said.
Gandolfo supports expanding wastewater infrastructure and sewer systems.
“I think any way that we can expand the wastewater infrastructure, the sewers, is a home run,” he said.
He said residents throughout the district generally want similar things, including economic growth in downtowns, occupied storefronts and well-maintained infrastructure.
Working across party lines and increasing his involvement throughout the district is part of Gandolfo’s agenda.
“Showing up is important,” he said.
Gandolfo lives in Sayville with his wife, Natalia, their sons, Leonard, 5, and Benjamin, 3, and their two cats, Sniffles and Elizabeth.
