Thursday, October 1, 2026
Incumbent Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Schaffer defeated Kathryn Casey Quigley for the party’s county chairman’s seat by a vote of 113,010 to 84,234 or 57.2 percent of votes cast by Democratic committee people at the party’s convention Sept. 22.
It took more than four hours for the party representatives to cast their votes, with many standing up and shouting out either Schaffer or Casey Quigley’s name to a round of applause from supporters on each side.
More than 1,000 Democratic supporters attended the convention. Enthusiasm was high for both candidates, with Quigley’s supporters wearing hot pink blouses, sweaters, hats and ribbons in a show of support. Quigley, who was dressed in a hot pink pantsuit, set the tone of her campaign, which included an appeal to women and youth.
“The energy here is electric,” said Ashley Hunt Martorano, a Quigley supporter from East Patchogue. “The fact is we need a new democratic leader who understands the importance of digital messaging. We can no longer afford to accept the status quo.”
Schaffer supporters showed the same ardor.
“I have known Rich for a long time and he is a very capable and accessible elected official and party chair,” said Patrick Halpin, the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 2 this year. “He has done a great job in creating a strong and vibrant party so voters can have a real choice at the polls.”
Schaffer’s supporters broke out in cheers, shouting, “Schaffer, Schaffer, Schaffer,” after the results were announced.
Quigley then took the podium. She thanked the Suffolk Democratic Committee for organizing “a tremendous, successful evening,” adding it was time for unity.
“I said from the beginning that our loyalty as democratic committee members is not to a person but to the mission of our party,” she told the crowd, most of whom waited for the results to be announced. “Our work continues and we are not going anywhere; we cannot stop building for the future of our party.”
Schaffer then walked over to Quigley and shook her hand.
“I want to thank Catherine Casey Quigley for her spirited, hard-fought challenge,” Schaffer said. “I want to thank her for making me a better person, for making me step up my game,” he said, adding that he also thanked her for helping him lose 50 pounds, a reference to the amount of walking he did throughout the campaign. “She brought a lot of energy to this party and we need to bottle that and make sure we leave here tonight with one mission and that is to beat all the Republicans in November.”
New York State Sen. Monica Martinez, who described him as a staunch leader who is always there for the party and its members, nominated Schaffer. Martinez represents the 4th Senate District.
“I would like to say one thing about this election,” she said. “When it is over, it is over. When the votes are counted, we have to go back to being the Suffolk County Democratic party because the real fight is not in this room, the real fight is in November and it is our responsibility to stand shoulder to shoulder and work for every (Democratic) candidate on the ballot.
Terryl Dozier, a Democrat from Huntington, and a member of the steering committee introduced Quigley for LI United to Transform Policing & Community Safety. His support of Quigley came from his witnessing her leadership and grassroots organization that helped break a Republican stronghold and build a Democratic organization in Southold.
“And this year, she brought that same energy across Suffolk County, inspiring over 400 people to step forward, pound the pavement, make phone calls and find a home in this Democratic committee among neighbors working toward shared goals with shared ideals,” he said.
