Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Democrats made strong gains across the North Shore on Tuesday night, with unofficial election results showing commanding leads in races for governor, Congress, the state Legislature and Nassau County Legislature.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, in her bid for another term. With 53.39 percent of the expected vote counted, Hochul received 2,436,557 votes, or 67.3 percent, compared with Blakeman's 1,175,094 votes, or 32.5 percent.
“You win some, you lose some,” Blakeman said. “The fact of the matter is that now we pull together, we move forward, we have the best interests of the people in our heart.”
In New York's 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mike LiPetri, receiving 87,712 votes, or 59.1 percent, compared with LiPetri's 60,224 votes, or 40.6 percent, with 49.8 percent of the expected vote counted.
“The good news is democracy works,” Suozzi said.
Suozzi emphasized affordability as a priority for his next term, calling for cooperation between Democrats and Republicans to address rising costs.
“They don't want the blame game,” Suozzi said of voters. “They don't want the finger pointing. They don't want the attacks and counterattack. They want people to work together, Democrats and Republicans, working together to actually solve the problems the American people face.”
In the 13th Assembly District, Democratic incumbent Charles Lavine led Republican Conner Dunleavy with 11,858 votes, or 65.24 percent, compared with Dunleavy's 6,301 votes, or 34.67 percent.
“I don't like to refer to it as a blue wave,” Lavine said. “To me, it is a red, white, and blue wave.”
Democrat Rory Lancman also led Republican Jake Blumencranz in the 7th State Senate District, receiving 29,425 votes, or 53.36 percent, compared with Blumencranz's 25,667 votes, or 46.55 percent.
In Nassau County's 11th Legislative District, Democratic incumbent Delia DeRiggi-Whitton led Republican John Canning with 11,288 votes, or 66 percent, compared with Canning's 5,814 votes, or 34 percent.
DeRiggi-Whitton said one of her priorities is restoring checks and balances in county government and ensuring the Legislature plays a meaningful role.
