Giglio Leads By Wide Margin In NY 2nd Assembly District Race

RIVERHEAD, NY — This story was updated at 1:13 a.m..

The polls have closed and the votes are being tallied to see who will fill the seat in New York's 2nd Assembly District vacated by Republican incumbent Anthony Palumbo, who is running for state Senate.

Jodi Giglio, a Republican and current Riverhead Town councilwoman, is facing off with Democrat Laura Jens-Smith, 57, of Laurel, former Riverhead Town Supervisor.

With all 89 districts reported, Giglio was in the lead with 34,289 votes to Jens-Smith's 19,935.

Libertarian William Van Helmond had 730 votes.

"I am very thankful for the support of my friends, Republican leadership and committee men and women. The support from law enforcement and my Local Union 138 operating engineers and many others made it possible for us to get our message out," Giglio said. "I am truly blessed. Every vote means something to me and I am so humbled by the confidence in me from the voters and the vote count thus far, and thankful to the communities that I will hopefully serve. Every vote counts!"

Giglio said she will await any declaration until all the absentee votes are counted.

"Thank you to all my supporters, volunteers and friends who have called, walked, written notecards and been there throughout this campaign," Jens-Smith wrote on social media after the vote. "While the results did not turn out how we would have liked, it does not diminish our commitment to build a stronger Long Island."

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 Giglio and other Republicans who had taken the lead.

In her candidate interview with Patch, Giglio said the most pressing issues to be addressed included "public safety and welfare. Repeal bail reform and put dangerous criminals and repeat offenders back in jail."

Jens-Smith, in her interview with Patch, also discussed what issues she deemed most critical: "Making Long Island more affordable. New York State's budget is a statement of its priorities, and somehow, Long Island always seems to get the short end of the stick. I would be a strong and loud voice for our region, and, I would rally the other areas of the state that are also receiving less, to create a new majority coalition of suburban and Upstate interests to wrest our fair share from the budget."

Palumbo, in a race with Laura Ahearn for the Senate seat, also was in the lead on Election Night.

The Second Assembly District of New York includes portions of Brookhaven Town of Brookhaven, and all of Riverhead and Southold.

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