Tuesday, December 3, 2024
North Shore voters turned out in record numbers in Tuesday’s election, deciding critical races and social issues that have dominated the national conversation. With a focus on abortion, the economy and the state of American democracy, voters made bold choices, electing local leaders and approving a new Equal Rights Amendment to the state Constitution.
Incumbent Congressman Tom Suozzi and Assemblymen Charles Lavine and Jake Blumencranz secured wins, along with State Sen. Jack Martins.
The passage of Proposition 1, the Equal Rights Amendment, was one of the night’s standout results. The amendment updates New York’s Constitution to protect against discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy outcomes, guaranteeing reproductive health care autonomy. Civil rights advocates across the state celebrated the amendment as a foundational step for expanding protections in a changing legal landscape.
“I am extraordinarily pleased that the voters of New York passed the Equal Rights Amendment by a two-to-one margin,” Lavine said. “It’s critically important that we have these rights embedded in our state Constitution. This is a victory for every New Yorker.”
In one of the closest races of the night, Suozzi, a Democrat, narrowly defeated his Republican challenger, Michael J. LiPetri Jr., to retain his seat in the 3rd Congressional District. Suozzi won 50.18 percent of the vote, to LiPetri’s 49.64 percent.
tinue pushing for bipartisan solutions to such pressing issues as economic relief and health care reform.
In the race in the 7th State Senate District, Martins, a Republican, secured his seat with a comfortable 55 percent of the vote, while Democrat Kim Keiserman earned 44 percent. Martins’s campaign focused heavily on affordability and economic stability, issues that he said resonated across his district. “We feel all of the issues that affect our communities,” he said. “I think people are doubling down on common sense, core values.”
Martins emphasized that he would oppose policies he viewed as harmful to suburban communities, like congestion pricing and regionalization of school districts. “We want to, and need to be, the voice for our communities,” he said.
In Assembly District 13, incumbent Democrat Lavine won with 54 percent of the vote, over Republican Ruka Anzai, who garnered 45 percent. Lavine’s campaign prioritized funding for education, environmental protection and improving infrastructure.
“My first priority is passing an effective state budget,” he said. “We need to ensure sufficient funding for education on Long Island and across New York, and we must do more to protect our environment.” Lavine also noted his pride in the passage of the Prop 1, seeing it as an important moment for civil rights in the state.
In the 15th Assembly District, Blumencranz, a Republican, emerged victorious with 58 percent of the vote, easily defeating Democrat William L. Murphy, who received 41 percent of votes. Blumencranz, who is in his second term, focused on affordability and accessibility for younger families on Long Island. “We worked really hard in this race,” he said. “It was just about getting our message out, and I think we have a winning message.”
Blumencranz also stressed his commitment to bipartisanship, which he believes resonated with his constituents. “We want to make Long Island a more affordable place to live,” he added, pledging to prioritize these issues in the upcoming budget discussions.
On the presidential front, Donald Trump surprised many by winning Nassau County, a traditionally Democratic stronghold, by over 5 percentage points. Nassau has voted Democratic in presidential races since 1992, making Trump’s win a notable shift. Trump also led in Suffolk County, signaling a changing political climate on Long Island.
Additional reporting by Brian Norman.
