New York State Assembly election endorsements overview

For more than a half century, Democrats have held the majority in the New York State Assembly. The current partisan split stands at 103 Democrats and 47 Republicans. That’s three votes more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a governor’s veto or pass certain special measures.

It is telling about the state’s partisan power dynamics that the Assembly’s Democratic speaker, Carl E. Heastie, comes from a New York City district and that the chamber’s minority leader, Edward P. Ra, comes from Long Island.

Of the 65 Assembly seats in the five boroughs, 59 now belong to Democrats led by Heastie. But of Long Island’s 22 members, 13 belong to Ra’s GOP conference.

Given that scenario, the Newsday editorial board asked Long Island Assembly candidates from both parties if Nassau and Suffolk counties together would gain from having more Republicans in the delegation or more Democrats. The answers, of course, were in the eyes of the beholders.

Republicans argued that their minority bloc serves a meaningful purpose to balance the Democratic dominance of all statewide elected offices and both legislative chambers. Ra said that just breaking the two-thirds supermajority of the Assembly Democrats this year would go a long way toward giving the GOP more clout and all the more so if Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is elected governor.

Democrats in the delegation, such as veteran Assemb. Charles D. Lavine, suggest that they already serve Long Island as an offset to what’s seen as New York City leaders’ increasingly left-wing impulses on taxes, budgets and legislation. Not incidentally, on local projects and priorities, being in the majority allows Democrats to promise a bigger share of the state budget for their districts.

Determining which candidate will do a better job for their district requires familiarity with its particular needs and demands. Newsday Opinion’s endorsements are based on the competing candidates’ answers to specific questions, the quality of their experience, and the ideas and values they bring to the table. In addition, we considered their propensity to reach across the aisle when necessary to play a constructive role for all their constituents.

Not all consensus or conflict runs along prescribed party lines. For example, pension benefit improvements enacted by the State Legislature for government employees in Tier 5 and Tier 6 were broadly supported by both parties’ candidates, but so are caps on local taxes even as the pension changes raise costs on municipal governments. We heard some interesting takes from candidates on how to better or more fairly finance public schools.

Voters’ choices are best based on the specifics of governance. The editorial board hopes the information and endorsements we’re presenting will help your own decision process.