Election Day 2023 was another downer for Republicans nationally. Losses in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia showed yet again how poorly the national GOP is doing messaging to and bringing out voters. Once again, like in 2022, a bright spot for the Republican Party comes from the most unlikely of sources: deep-blue New York.
Nassau County residents voiced their support for the continuity of leadership by reelecting three incumbent town supervisors, solidifying another two years of GOP governance. Among the triumphant leaders is North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Donald Clavin, who secured a decisive victory with 65% of the votes, and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who won a fourth term. Notably, the Republican candidates claimed three seats on Long Beach’s City Council, resulting in the party’s control of the body for the first time in over a decade.
Republicans also maintained a 12-7 majority in the county legislature. The political landscape witnessed a seat exchange, with Republicans flipping one seat but losing another. One of the notable victories for the Republicans came in the 18th Legislative District, where challenger Samantha Goetz unseated incumbent Democrat Josh Lafazan. Goetz, Nassau’s 34-year-old deputy county attorney, attributed her win to strong support for law enforcement, commitment to law and order, and a steadfast stance on tax control. Lafazan, a 29-year-old seeking a fourth term from Woodbury, was defeated despite his incumbency.
In Suffolk County, Republican Ed Romaine secured victory in the race for county executive, defeating Democrat Dave Calone. This marked the first change in county executive leadership in 12 years and the ninth in the county’s history. Romaine, the Brookhaven Town supervisor, declared victory, expressing his commitment to a common-sense agenda that prioritizes low taxes, affordability, and public safety.
Republicans also strengthened their grip on the Suffolk County legislature. The GOP secured a veto-proof supermajority by flipping Democratic seats in the North Fork and northern Brookhaven, expanding their control from an 11-7 majority to 12-6.
Over in NYC, a City Council race ended in a surprising upset as Republicans secured a victory in when progressive Democrat Marjorie Velázquez lost her Throggs Neck seat in The Bronx with a notable win for first-time Republican candidate Kristy Marmorato. Velázquez faced backlash for supporting local zoning changes advocated by Mayor Eric Adams for increased development. By 11 p.m., Marmorato held 52% of the vote, surpassing Velázquez’s 47%, marking a significant shift in the politically mixed area.
Incumbent Republicans Vickie Paladino and Inna Vernikov held their seats against challengers with strong showings from both. Ari Kagan, however, fell to Democrat Justin Brannan, as they were both incumbents vying for a single redistricted seat. The results leave Republicans with 7 seats in the 51-seat NYC council.
The results show that Republican can have a winning message even when they are outnumbered by registered Democrats. No Republican was pushing hot-button issues that are political death in New York, like gun rights or abortion. They kept it simple, focusing on taxes and safe streets. Kathy Hochul’s urbanization of the suburbs in particular was a lightning rod for Nassau County voters, and the stench of the failed bail reform is not going away from Democrats anytime soon.
This is essential going into the 2024 election, where Congressional Republicans will have to defend their seats in the House of Representatives. Freshman Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (CD-4) will have to contend with a bevy of Democrats vying to challenge him in a hotly-contested primary. Congressman George Santos will likely have a hard time getting past his own primary, as the New York GOP has cut all ties with him amid his ongoing scandals, culminating in a failed expulsion attempt. All Republicans are not yet even aware what their districts will look like, as the courts have decided to redraw the lines – again - for 2024.
Given the razor-thin majority the Republicans hold in the House, New York could be the difference-maker in which party controls that legislative body in 2025. New York Republicans need to keep this momentum going to make up for the flailing national GOP, which have not won decisive victories since 2016.
