Friday, October 23, 2026
With Election Day approaching, it's important to know who's on the ballot, what they represent and where they stand on the issues that are important to the local community. To learn more about each candidate, read our voter guide below.
For election results right after the polls close on Nov. 3, go to LIHerald.com.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: Governor
Affordability and tax relief Hochul identifies lowering costs as a central priority. Her campaign points to inflation refund checks sent to more than 8 million New Yorkers, an expanded child tax credit and middle-class tax cuts as measures aimed at easing household expenses. She also cites universal free school meals as a way to help families save money.
Housing and child care Hochul supports building and preserving more affordable housing. Her campaign highlights her support for running mate Adrienne Adams’ City for All housing plan during Adams’ tenure as New York City Council speaker. The two also worked together to secure child care funding. Hochul says she is working toward universal child care to make it more accessible and affordable for New York families.
Public safety and schools Hochul emphasizes investments in community safety and cites gun safety legislation enacted during her administration. Her campaign also highlights her work with Adams on city and state gun-free zone laws. In schools, Hochul points to the ban on student cellphone use during school hours as another initiative enacted during her tenure.
Federal policies Hochul has made opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies a central part of her campaign. She says she will defend New Yorkers against federal actions she considers harmful and, alongside Adams, oppose what her campaign describes as “MAGA extremism.”
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Nassau County Executive
Affordability and tax relief Blakeman proposes eliminating state income tax on the first $50,000 of income for single filers and the first $100,000 for joint filers.
He also proposes doubling the state’s multibillion-dollar property tax rebate program. Blakeman says restructuring the state budget, using state reserves, could finance the tax cuts and redirecting taxpayer funds currently allocated to services for undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers.
Housing and childcare Blakeman aims to invest in schools and reduce the overall tax burden on residents. He looks to give families more disposable income as they contend with housing, childcare and other rising costs.
Public safety and schools Blakeman has pledged to increase support for police, expand counterterrorism funding for the NYPD and build or reopen state prisons. He also strongly opposes sanctuary state and city policies and supports greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities to deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
He supports restricting biological males from competing in female school sports categories.
Federal policies Blakeman has made opposition to New York’s sanctuary policies and the state’s spending on services for migrants and asylum seekers a central part of his campaign.
He supports working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove undocumented immigrants with criminal records and redirecting state resources currently used for migrant services. His campaign also emphasizes closer cooperation between state and federal authorities on immigration and public safety.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: Politician
Affordability and taxes Halpin criticized tariffs and federal tax policies that he said drive up costs for consumers and disproportionately affect New York taxpayers. He supports federal assistance to help families manage rising expenses.
Healthcare Warning that Medicaid cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies could make coverage less affordable, Halpin noted that this would place additional pressure on hospitals and community health centers. He supports federal funding for healthcare, heating bills and food assistance.
Energy and development Halpin called for modernizing Long Island’s aging power infrastructure and considering a range of energy sources, including Canadian hydropower and offshore wind. He opposes large-scale projects, including a proposed Amazon warehouse in Holbrook and a potential AI data center, citing traffic, infrastructure strain and corporate tax breaks.
Housing and bipartisanship Supporting the conversion of underused shopping centers into housing for young adults and seniors, Halpin said he would build on his past work promoting workforce housing in Suffolk County. He also called for greater bipartisan cooperation in Washington, arguing that lawmakers should prioritize governing over political disputes.
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Congressman
Long Island economy Garbarino says he supports lowering taxes, reducing regulations and helping small businesses create jobs. He cites his role in increasing the State and Local Tax deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 and preserving the Pass-Through Entity Tax deduction.
Energy and environment Garbarino cites efforts to preserve clean-energy tax incentives for nuclear, hydropower, geothermal and energy storage, along with millions of dollars secured for sewer infrastructure, coastal resiliency, flood mitigation and water quality projects across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Border security Saying border security, immigration enforcement and combating fentanyl trafficking and transnational criminal organizations as priorities, Garbarino noted his work as House Homeland Security Committee chairman, including legislation requiring a federal strategy to address criminal organizations operating across U.S. borders. His POLICE Act, which would make assaults on law enforcement officers and other first responders deportable offenses, passed the House.
Supporting law enforcement Garbarino says he opposes defunding the police and supports providing law enforcement officers and first responders with resources to protect communities. He cited the $140 million in federal counterterrorism and emergency preparedness funding for New York, including $1.8 million for Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: Assistant store manager
Addressing Long Island’s cost of living Walis’ campaign says the cost of living on Long Island, particularly housing and property taxes, is a central concern. His website says a lack of affordable housing is making it difficult for younger people to remain on Long Island while older homeowners struggle with rising property taxes.
Expanding access to affordable housing Walis also identifies affordable housing as a priority, particularly for younger residents seeking to establish themselves on Long Island. His campaign says rising housing costs are making it increasingly difficult for younger generations to remain in the communities where they grew up.
Protecting Long Island’s environment Environmental preservation is another priority. Walis’ website identifies protecting groundwater from toxic plumes, maintaining parks and preserves and addressing toxic algal blooms in South Shore waters among his concerns.
Advocating for civil rights protections Walis supports protections for immigrant communities affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions and transgender youths facing restrictions imposed by local school boards and elected officials, according to his campaign website. His campaign also highlights community outreach, including hosting a town hall and participating in local demonstrations.
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Politician
Passage of Connor’s Law a priority Durso, of Massapequa Park, said one of his priorities is passage of Connor’s Law, named for Connor Kasin, a 17-year-old Massapequa High School hockey player who collapsed and died during a game in 2024. The bill would require cardiac screenings for student athletes. “After Connor’s passing, I came up with the idea for this bill to ensure that student athletes can participate in sports safely and with peace of mind,” Durso said. “Heart screenings are important tools used to detect potentially underlying conditions that may put a child at risk and should be required in order to participate in school sports.” Durso, a Massapequa High School graduate who attended Nassau BOCES’ Barry Tech program, began his career in sanitation and describes himself as a “Labor Republican.” Now completing his third Assembly term, he is the ranking member of the Labor Committee.
Seeks to expand technical education Durso also wants to expand technical education in public schools. “I want to change the mindset that working with one’s hands is a dirty job and beneath people,” he said.
Opposes Medical Aid in Dying Act Durso voted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow eligible terminally ill adults to request medication to end their lives.
Supports cooperation on immigration enforcement Durso has criticized restrictions on cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities, opposing policies that limit communication between the two. “New York is great at being first, but terrible about doing things right,” he said.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: State assemblyman
Workforce development Kwani O’Pharrow, 56, said affordability and public safety remain priorities. One initiative has been a workforce development program offering free security guard training. “Those applicants coming in and taking the actual training, they don’t have to pay out of pocket for it, so the only cost is for them to get the security guard license,” said O’Pharrow who is running for reelection in the 11th Assembly District.
Transparency and accountability O’Pharrow has also introduced the Edeedson “Joshy” Cine Jr. Transparency Act, named in honor of a young man killed at a CVS in Lindenhurst on Christmas Day last year. The proposed legislation would require video footage related to violent crimes to be turned over promptly, helping ensure greater transparency and accountability in criminal investigations while reducing potential delays in accessing evidence that could be critical to a case.
Community accessibility O’Pharrow said remaining accessible to the community and responsive to residents’ concerns has been a central focus of his first term in office. He emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with constituents and ensuring they have opportunities to voice their concerns. “I continue to campaign on being accessible,” he said.
Affordability O’Pharrow supports universal pre-K and changes to Tier 6 pension benefits. He said implementing universal pre-K will also require addressing classroom space and compensation for child care workers. “The childcare instructors don’t get paid a lot of money at all and I’m going to try my best to lobby on behalf of that because it’s great to have universal pre-k but if you’re not paying teachers and instructors a livable wage, then we have another problem,” said O’Pharrow.
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Retired, NYPD, owner of Blue Line Pilot Cars
Cardinale’s priorities Cardinale said his priorities include making the district safer and more affordable. Crime has been a major campaign focus. He cited the Christmas Day 2025 killing of Edeedson “Joshy” Cine Jr., a CVS employee in Lindenhurst, as an example of what he considers a growing problem of retail theft and other crimes. Cardinale said he raised concerns about retail theft during his 2024 campaign and was accused of “fear mongering.”
“It’s not fear mongering, it’s real — retail theft seems to be one of the biggest things on Long Island right now because there is no consequence for it,” Cardinale said. He said crime also affects the local economy when businesses leave. “When we drive these businesses out because of the crime issue, they do not return,” he said.
Retail theft Cardinale said he raised concerns about retail theft during his 2024 campaign and was accused of “fear mongering.” “It’s not fear mongering, it’s real — retail theft seems to be one of the biggest things on Long Island right now because there is no consequence for it,” Cardinale said. He said crime also affects the local economy when businesses leave. “When we drive these businesses out because of the crime issue, they do not return,” he said. “They don’t want to come back to New York.”
Safety and quality-of-life issues Cardinale, a retired NYPD lieutenant commander, who ran two years ago, also called for greater enforcement of quality-of-life issues and said he wants tax policies that make it easier for families to pass homes to their children
Immigration and ICE On immigration, he said, “We’re all immigrants — my great grandparents came over here — but it’s different now.” Cardinale said he is willing to work across party lines. “I’ll cross the aisle if it’s going to benefit Long Island,” he said.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: Attorney, immigration law
Justice background Craig Herskowitz, 45, of Northport, is running for the open 12th Assembly District seat, which includes Deer Park. He is opposed by Republican Dave Weber. An attorney who works in immigration law, Herskowitz previously served in the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division and as an assistant counsel to the governor.
Local funding Herskowitz said bringing more state funding to the district, including Deer Park, is a campaign priority. He said Deer Park Avenue needs revitalization and that additional state school aid could help ease property taxes. “My focus is making sure that we get our fair share of funds and I already have commitments from leadership to make sure that we finally do get our fair share of funds,” Herskowitz said.
Water quality Herskowitz also lists water quality among his priorities and supports sewer expansion, which he said could reduce nitrates entering the water. He also said sewer infrastructure could support the construction of more affordable housing.
Immigration enforcement Drawing on his legal background, Herskowitz said he wants constituents to understand their rights during federal immigration enforcement actions. He advocates for local law enforcement not to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a judicial warrant. Herskowitz said his campaign is reaching out to Hispanic communities that he believes have been particularly affected by immigration enforcement.
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Small business owner, former police officer
Affordability Weber said affordability is one of his top priorities, arguing that state mandates can create additional costs for taxpayers. He specifically questioned the pace of the transition to electric school buses and the financial demands such requirements place on local communities. If elected, Weber said, he would review unfunded state mandates to determine whether they are realistic.
Small businesses Weber, whose family owns Seymour’s Boatyard, said he would advocate for small businesses and scrutinize state regulations that increase their costs. As a business owner, he identified regulatory expenses as a concern he would bring to Albany. His focus would include examining the financial burdens that accompany state requirements, making the effect on small-business owners a central consideration when reviewing regulations.
Public safety and mental health Weber identified public safety and mental health services as priorities. He said his experience as a firefighter and police officer would help inform his approach to public safety. His background includes both professional police work and three decades of volunteer fire service in Northport. He pointed to that experience as a foundation for considering safety issues at the state level, while also identifying mental health services as an area deserving attention.
Environmental protection Weber said rising temperatures, sea level rise and increasingly severe storms are environmental concerns. He also highlighted improving water quality in Long Island Sound as a priority. His environmental focus includes both the effects of changing weather conditions and the health of local waterways.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: State Senator
Preventive health care Martinez said earlier breast cancer diagnoses underscore the need to expand access to screening for younger women. She pointed to Shannon’s Law, which requires insurers to cover medically necessary mammograms for women ages 35 to 39 when a doctor determines screening is necessary, and said lawmakers are considering further legislation to lower the screening age.
Public safety She supports expanding legal protections for victims of revenge pornography to cover certain forms of digital impersonation, including deepfakes. The legislation passed the State Senate but remains pending in the Assembly. She also sponsored legislation with former Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre to provide additional training for school security personnel on interacting with children.
Reducing costs, infrastructure investment Affordability remains a priority. She cited state investments in housing assistance, child tax credits and sewer infrastructure, including $40 million for projects in underserved Suffolk communities.
Housing options and transportation safety Martinez said her priorities include promoting transit-oriented development, addressing drug-impaired driving and underage drinking, expanding access to affordable housing and helping older residents remain in their homes. She also stressed the importance of working across party lines to advance legislation, citing her positive working relationships with Republican colleagues.
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: Way Maker Church, worship leader
Affordability To address affordability, Wakefield proposed a tax credit for seniors making home accessibility improvements, such as installing walk-in showers and stair lifts. She also suggested a $1,000 annual tax credit for first-time homebuyers for five years. She said she would examine the state budget and unfunded mandates contributing to local property taxes.
Public Safety Public safety is another priority. Wakefield supports repealing or changing the state’s bail reform laws, saying the current system leaves residents and business owners vulnerable. She cited concerns about repeat offenders and frustration among police officers. Wakefield acknowledged that mental health and substance abuse complicate crime prevention but said residents must feel safe reporting incidents.
Human trafficking prevention She also wants middle school health classes to address grooming and human trafficking, including online recruitment tactics. She has helped organize training for small-business employees to recognize potential trafficking situations.
Outreach and bipartisan cooperation Wakefield said she has campaigned door to door since November and hopes to work across party lines, emphasizing that cooperation among lawmakers is essential to passing legislation.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Profession: Store manager, BYLT
Working-class representation Taveras said his background gives him an understanding of the financial challenges facing Long Islanders. “We need someone who actually knows the struggles that Long Islanders have endured, working full-time and paycheck to paycheck,” he said.
Housing affordability Taveras cited housing costs and property taxes as concerns for younger residents and seniors. “What are we doing if we’re pricing out the next generation?” he said. He supports assistance for first-time homebuyers and allowing homeowners to legally rent portions of their properties.
Public education Taveras supports universal pre-K and opposes charter schools, which he believes divert funding from public schools. “I think we need to protect the education system as a whole here and make the system so strong that the other states want to copy it as well,” Taveras said.
Health care Taveras supports expanding health care access and stricter enforcement of nurse-to-patient ratios. He emphasized finding long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes. “I’m always thinking ahead,” Taveras said. “They just want to fill a pothole, but we need to take off the whole road and lay a completely new one.”
Party affiliation: Republican
Profession: State assemblyman
Mental health care Gandolfo said expanding mental health care is a priority. He pointed to funding secured for the Bayport-Blue Point School District’s Student Wellness Center. “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.
Affordability and child care A father of two, Gandolfo has introduced legislation addressing child care costs. He said his family once paid more than $3,000 per month for daycare, highlighting the financial challenges facing Long Island families.
Wastewater infrastructure Gandolfo supports expanding wastewater infrastructure to protect Long Island’s environment and aquifer. “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.
Constituent engagement Gandolfo said constituent engagement would remain important if elected to the State Senate. He emphasized the importance of remaining accessible to residents and maintaining a presence throughout the district. “Showing up is important,” he said.
