Palumbo Takes Lead In New York's 1st Senate District Race

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — This story was updated at 1:46 a.m.

The voting has ended and results are in for a race that has Democrat Laura Ahearn facing off with Republican Anthony Palumbo to win a seat in New York's 1st Senate district.

When the votes were tallied, Palumbo, a current New York State Assemblyman had 74,289 votes to Ahearn's 55,554.

Ahearn, executive director of the Crime Victims Center/Parents for Megan's Law, and Palumbo are vying for a seat held by retiring New York State Senator Kenneth LaValle for 44 years.

"This was a hard hard-fought race and I feel good...even with the large number of outstanding absentee ballots," Palumbo said. "I will be an honor if this lead holds to allow me to follow in the footsteps of the great Senator Ken LaValle."

The votes tallied Tuesday included all early votes and ballots cast on Election Day but did not include the roughly absentee ballots distributed in Suffolk County. Peter McGreevy, Southold Republican Committee Chair, told Patch that according to the BOE, as of November 2, absentee ballots received were comprised of 50,698 Democratic ballots, 27,051 Republican, 1,706 Conservative, 4,287 Independence, and 27,471 Blank.

GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, who declared victory on Election Night in his race with Democrat Nancy Goroff, also expressed his pride in Palumbo and other Republicans who had taken the lead.

In his candidate profile for Patch, Palumbo said the issue he feels is most critical is public safety. "The bail and discovery laws have put dangerous and repeat offenders back on our streets and has given criminals access to once confidential information that endangers victims, police officers and witnesses," he said. "Worse, the anti-cop, pro-criminal rhetoric coming out of Albany is hindering law enforcement's ability to do their jobs, while putting the rights of criminals above those of law abiding citizens. As senator, I will work to repeal these disastrous laws and provide law enforcement with the tools, resources and support they need to keep our communities safe."

Ahearn, in her Patch candidate profile, said the most important issue to address is the economy.

"Our economic condition is the most pressing issue facing our state and nation because it has an impact on everything that is important to us: healthcare; education; our drinking and surface water, environment and combatting climate change; public safety and holding the line on taxes," she said. "America recovers from fiscal crisis when we invest in our infrastructure, which can create good-paying green jobs as we transition to a carbon-free environment. However, our nation's elected officials have become so polarized that they are unable to get the people's work done. We must work together to ensure New York gets its fair share from the federal government."

The 1st New York State Senate district covers the five East End towns and the eastern portion of Brookhaven Town.

Find the results of all local races on our Long Island Election Hub.