Find out the candidates the editorial board chose and why as endorsements are published throughout October.

Opinion

Endorsements

2026endorsementsNassauLeg

The Editorial Board

The powers of a county as defined by state law are limited. The largest unit of municipal government has no control of land use, often the most contentious issue on Long Island. Zoning changes and the issuance of building permits happen in village and town arenas. Counties deliver mandated services such as policing, collecting sales tax, overseeing public health, and operating a board of elections, a jail and a probation department. They also distribute state and federal funding — an expected stream of $360 million from the state and $247.5 million in federal aid for Nassau County next year. 
Sales and property taxes are Nassau's two biggest revenue streams. Nassau is unique in that it controls property tax assessment usually done by towns. It also is supposed to have a role on the governing board of Nassau University Medical Center. 
How well Nassau delivers its mandated services depends on the county executive and the 19 lawmakers on the county legislature, long controlled by a Republican majority. A change in state election law caused those legislators elected in 2025 to only serve a one-year term; those winning in 2026 will have the usual two-year term. 
Little has changed in that one year. The county is considered very safe — which it has been regardless of the party in power — as it spends one-quarter of its budget on policing. Beyond that, the current legislature fails to deliver independent oversight by questioning excessive spending or demanding answers about why there are significant job vacancies for detectives and child protective services workers. Republican incumbents told the editorial board they exercise that oversight privately by stopping bad ideas from County Executive Bruce Blakeman from seeing daylight. 
Next year's proposed $4.6 billion budget depends on a drawdown on reserves — even more than the year before — a practice the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the state's fiscal watchdog, says puts the county at risk. Nassau still is holding onto much of its money from the settlement of opioid abuse cases instead of spending it to deal with drug addiction. Aging drainage and sewage infrastructure still needs attention. And after five years of promises by Blakeman to fix the tax assessment system, it remains broken. Republicans refuse to make their appointments to the NUMC board, despite the hospital's challenges. 
In our 2025 assessment of the legislature, we wrote that "governing in Mineola is more of an exercise of executive control than a shared effort to meet the considerable challenges of affordability, economic growth, safe roads and infrastructure upgrades." We have evaluated this year's legislative candidates by the same measure.

Editorials

VPNASSAUOVERVIEW261020

Nassau County Legislature election endorsements overview

AIAudio - ${articleName}

The 1st District includes Rockville Centre, Roosevelt and parts of Hempstead. 
Democratic incumbent Scott M. Davis, 64, from Rockville Centre, has become a prominent voice in the county legislature since he was first elected in 2023. 
An attorney who has served on the county Civil Service Commission and Assessment Review Commission, Davis brings a keen eye to reviewing budgets and staffing. He has raised the alarm on understaffing in the county Department of Social Services, especially for child protection work, and in the Department of Public Works. Davis tries to bring transparency to the often opaque workings of the legislature. He is suing the county over a program to use residents as special armed "deputy sheriffs" in emergency situations without providing lawmakers and the public information about how it works. "When I see something that’s wrong or an issue that needs to be addressed, that’s when I do what I do," he said. 
Davis has gotten $1.75 million to upgrade Hempstead Village’s water filtration system and is working to improve the village’s fire station. 
Republican Edward J. Lino, 36, of Rockville Centre, is a Town of Hempstead deputy attorney who is running his first race for elective office in this overwhelmingly Democratic district. He did not meet with the editorial board. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Davis.

VP1NL261020

Scott M. Davis for Nassau Legislative District 1

Newsday Opinion endorses Davis for Nassau Legislative District 1

AIAudio - Scott M. Davis for Nassau Legislative District 1


AIAudio - Scott M. Davis for Nassau Legislative District 1

Copy Of slVOTE2026_Davis

The 2nd District includes Carle Place, Westbury, New Cassel and parts of Hempstead, Uniondale and Hicksville. 
Viviana L. Russell, the Democratic incumbent from Westbury, spent her first year as a county lawmaker focusing on infrastructure shortfalls and housing needs in her district. The former North Hempstead Town board member worked for funding to replace aging equipment at the Westbury Memorial Public Library, infrastructure improvements in the Westbury and Carle Place school districts, and upgrades to community centers. 
Russell, 54, questions why the legislature hasn’t done more to make housing more affordable by supporting and maintaining efforts like the now-closed first-time homebuyers initiative, which was run by the Long Island Housing Partnership but funded by the county. Russell has urged an audit of all aging county infrastructure to have Nassau be "proactive, not reactive" in handling sewer lines, roadways and drainage systems. Her district includes the Nassau Hub, where there has been no movement by the county since the casino plan evaporated. Russell should take the initiative to work with the community on developing what she calls a "visioning" for the land surrounding Nassau Coliseum. 
Republican Lamont E. Johnson, 54, from Hempstead, a perennial candidate the party nominates in mostly unwinnable races, is the challenger. The retired police officer and active Hempstead school board member did not meet with the editorial board. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Russell.

VP2NL261020

Viviana L. Russell for Nassau Legislative District 2

Newsday Opinion endorses Russell for Nassau Legislative District 2

AIAudio - Viviana L. Russell for Nassau Legislative District 2


AIAudio - Viviana L. Russell for Nassau Legislative District 2

Copy Of vgRUSSELL26

The 3rd District includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Elmont, North Valley Stream, Malverne,&nbsp;Lakeview and parts of Franklin Square and West Hempstead. 
Democrat Carrié Solages, 47,&nbsp;of Valley Stream, is seeking his eighth&nbsp;term, and our evaluations of his&nbsp;work as a legislator&nbsp;have varied from election to election. Recently, Solages has gotten $2.5 million of county funding to address&nbsp;flooding and drainage issues on Elmont Road and was an outsized voice for the seniors living in a co-op building nearby that became uninhabitable because of water damage. 
Through his tenure, Solages has contended that Democratic districts are not&nbsp;treated the same as those with a Republican representative, citing Nassau's&nbsp;failure to correct&nbsp;the&nbsp;dangerous intersection of Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway. The county is now facing more than $100 million in liabilities&nbsp;from those injured in accidents there.&nbsp; 
Solages wants to make the legislature more goal-oriented in order to solve problems, suggesting&nbsp;a specific committee&nbsp;on devising&nbsp;more productive uses of the land belonging to Nassau University Medical Center&nbsp;and another to fix the county's broken tax assessment system. He wants to&nbsp;ban&nbsp;political donations from law firms that profit off the tax grievance process. It's an excellent idea to revive the moribund chamber. 
Challenger Kadeem M. Brown, 35, of Elmont, is running on the Republican line but not actively campaigning. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Solages.

VP3NL261020

Carrié Solages for Nassau Legislative District 3

Newsday Opinion endorses Solages for Nassau Legislative District 3

AIAudio - Carrié Solages for Nassau Legislative District 3


AIAudio - Carrié Solages for Nassau Legislative District 3

VP3NL261020_photos

The 4th District includes the South Shore from East Atlantic Beach and Long Beach to Point Lookout, plus&nbsp;Island Park, Barnum Island, Oceanside and parts of Jones Beach Island. 
Patrick Mullaney is a 51-year-old operations lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department serving in his second term as a Nassau County legislator in the GOP majority caucus. 
The Long Beach resident expresses particular pride in co-sponsoring the "blue envelope" initiative to protect neurodivergent drivers and passengers when communicating with law enforcement in traffic stops and other emergencies; the bill passed in July. He supported the popular initiative to have the county turn over the blighted former Long Beach Motor Inn in Island Park to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to develop supportive housing for veterans. 
Opposing Mullaney is Democrat Michael J. Pentola, 35, of Long Beach, who has been working for nearly four years for the New York City Department of Education. If elected, he says he would focus on the cost of childcare as a way to address affordability and help alleviate the pressures on small businesses in his district. Pentola told the editorial board he’d also like to work toward "making more of an investment in Long Beach’s vibrant arts community" including musical venues. More broadly, he challenged the spending priorities of the Blakeman administration. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Mullaney.

VP4NL261020

Patrick Mullaney for Nassau Legislative District 4

Newsday Opinion endorses Mullaney for Nassau Legislative District 4

AIAudio - Patrick Mullaney for Nassau Legislative District 4


AIAudio - Patrick Mullaney for Nassau Legislative District 4

VP4NL261020_photos

The 5th District includes parts of Uniondale, Hempstead, West Hempstead and Franklin Square. 
Last year, Nassau County's 5th Legislative District was redrawn as a majority-minority district. Incumbent Democrat Olena Nicks, 34, of Uniondale, is seeking reelection against Republican Moshe E. Hill, 40, of West Hempstead. 
Nicks, a contract and finance analyst, is a member of the Uniondale Fire Department and a Uniondale library trustee. She joined the legislature in February 2025, initially representing the 2nd District. 
Nicks secured $32,000 for repairs for the library and obtained a grant to help upgrade the auditorium at Uniondale High School. 
Hill, a project coordinator for the Nassau County Board of Elections and political blogger, was active in getting the derelict Capri Motor Inn closed. He said his emphasis as a lawmaker would include public safety and fighting antisemitism. 
Hill and Nicks know different parts of their district very well and are personally active in the civic life there. But Hill's focus is mainly on partisan politics while Nicks is trying to make government work. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Nicks.

VP5NL261020

Olena Nicks for Nassau Legislative District 5

Newsday Opinion endorses Nicks for Nassau Legislative District 5

AIAudio - Olena Nicks for Nassau Legislative District 5


AIAudio - Olena Nicks for Nassau Legislative District 5

Copy Of slVOTE

The 6th District includes Baldwin, Baldwin Harbor and Freeport. 
Democrat Debra S. Mulé was first elected to the legislature in 2017 and has been advocating for her district's share of county resources ever since. It's been an uphill climb as she and other Democrats&nbsp;say they have been stonewalled by the Republican majority. 
But Mulé helped lead Democrats' efforts to force the Republican-controlled legislature to release some discretionary money in return for capital borrowing approvals. Throughout the continued push-and-pull between Republicans and Democrats, Mulé has established herself as a deft player in advocating for her district. 
Mulé, 64, of Freeport, says county government is "not a functioning body" because legislative committees&nbsp;don't meet, mandated positions at the county's Department of Social Services are unfilled, and information from the county is withheld&nbsp;from Democratic legislators and the public. She also criticizes the county for not having a proactive plan to fix crumbling sewer pipes. 
Benjamin Jackson, 65, a lifelong Freeport resident who served on the village's zoning board of appeals for over a decade, is an independent running on the Republican&nbsp;line.&nbsp;He said&nbsp;the county's&nbsp;infrastructure must be improved before large-scale housing can be built. He promises&nbsp;an independent voice for residents, but 6th District residents already have that in Mulé. 
Mulé has shown moxie in speaking out against a sclerotic&nbsp;legislature. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Mulé.

VP6NL261020

Debra S. Mulé for Nassau Legislative District 6

Newsday Opinion endorses Mulé for Nassau Legislative District 6

AIAudio - Debra S. Mulé for Nassau Legislative District 6


AIAudio - Debra S. Mulé for Nassau Legislative District 6

Copy Of slVOTE2026_Mule

The 7th District includes the Five Towns area and East Rockaway. 
There are two different versions of Howard J. Kopel. 
As presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature, Kopel too often cedes&nbsp;his authority and his chamber's institutional&nbsp;role as a public&nbsp;check on the county executive. That's especially true due&nbsp;to the&nbsp;egregious rule change pushed by County Executive Bruce Blakeman last year&nbsp;that no longer guarantees the leadership role for an entire term, instead&nbsp;allowing the presiding officer's removal at any time&nbsp;— which&nbsp;essentially turns&nbsp;him into a rubber stamp for Blakeman.&nbsp; 
Kopel&nbsp;rebuts that characterization.&nbsp;"A lot of things are stillborn," Kopel told the editorial board. "There may be a bad idea coming from the county executive that comes to us and we tell him, 'Don't bother. Don't even put that on the agenda.' " 
But as the 7th District's representative, the Lawrence Republican has&nbsp;showcased his ability to lead.&nbsp;For years, Kopel pushed to replace the aging community center in Lawrence; a new one is now finally on the way. And this year, Kopel, 75, has become a powerful advocate for Peninsula Public Library, which current trustees have mismanaged. It's a welcome&nbsp;show of energy&nbsp;for the often quiet lawmaker. 
Kopel's opponent is Woodmere Democrat Douglas J. Segan, a former emergency room doctor who now teaches at Hofstra University. Segan, 72,&nbsp;said the legislature would "benefit from having a physician in the house," and hopes to focus on health and public safety, advocating&nbsp;for improvements to the county's 911 system. 
If Kopel could bring his district voice to the legislative chamber, Nassau County would benefit. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Kopel.

VP7NL261020

Howard J. Kopel for Nassau Legislative District 7

Newsday Opinion endorses Kopel for Nassau Legislative District 7

AIAudio - Howard J. Kopel for Nassau Legislative District 7


AIAudio - Howard J. Kopel for Nassau Legislative District 7

VP7NL261020_photos

The 8th District includes Garden City, Garden City South, Franklin Square, Stewart Manor and parts of New Hyde Park and Floral Park. 
Stewart Manor Republican John J. Giuffré is a thoughtful elected official equally attuned to larger issues impacting greater Nassau County as well as street-level concerns in his own 8th District. First elected in 2021, Giuffré, 62, has developed a reputation for working across the aisle to get things done, a trait that is sorely needed in county government. 
Giuffré cites his work in expediting the Covert Avenue restoration in Floral Park after the devastating fire in 2020, saying he held meetings to accelerate the project. "I can't guarantee results, but I can guarantee effort," he said. 
His opponent, 47-year-old Democrat Joy Jankunas from Garden City, embodies the American dream. Her parents immigrated to America and worked to provide their children with opportunities. She is running to set an example for her children to get involved. "I want to show them that everybody can play a role," Jankunas said. 
Jankunas, an attorney, says she wants affordable housing so families can stay in Nassau, and would seek input from all communities on whatever plan is pitched next for the Nassau Hub. While Jankunas' vision is welcome, she lacks specific details to implement changes. 
Giuffré exemplifies the old-school politician who speaks with neighbors and listens in order to find ways to fix problems. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Giuffré.

VP8NL261020

John J. Giuffré for Nassau Legislative District 8

Newsday Opinion endorses Giuffré for Nassau Legislative District 8

AIAudio - John J. Giuffré for Nassau Legislative District 8


AIAudio - John J. Giuffré for Nassau Legislative District 8

VP8NL261020_photos

The 9th District includes Mineola, North New Hyde Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills, Searingtown, East Williston and parts of New Hyde Park and Williston Park. 
When Scott P. Strauss, a Mineola Republican, was first elected three years ago, he promised to take risks and address big challenges. Strauss, 63, previously served as Mineola's mayor, where he exhibited independent leadership. 
But now, Strauss is just one of a crowd. He echoes rhetoric of his Republican majority colleagues, saying he reaches out privately about the administration's actions. A baseball manager gets better calls when he doesn't "yell at the umpire," Strauss said. 
"Just because we're not publicly demanding things doesn't mean the demand isn't there," he said. 
Strauss highlights funds he's obtained for public safety and infrastructure, like a Marcus Avenue police booth and Herricks Road flood mitigation. He admits he finds it "frustrating" that Democratic colleagues have trouble securing funding from the county, but he hasn't spoken out about that, either. 
Roslyn Democrat Juleigh Chin, who lost to Strauss last year, says even in the majority, Strauss hasn't done enough to meet local needs. Chin, 54, promises to be more responsive and a better advocate. Chin, who serves on the Herricks school board and works for Northwell Health, underscores the need to fix "crumbling" Christopher Morley Park and reopen its long-closed pool. But she's also willing to tackle broader countywide concerns, suggesting the creation of a master plan to address infrastructure needs across Nassau and pushing for next steps to truly address the beleaguered assessment system. 
"Most problems are pretty hard to solve," Chin said. "But we have to at least make a plan to take baby steps ... You can't just ignore it." 
Chin can do much more than that. She's poised to hit the ground running on issues big and small. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Chin.

VP9NL261021

Juleigh Chin for Nassau Legislative District 9

Newsday Opinion endorses Chin for Nassau Legislative District 9

AIAudio - Juleigh Chin for Nassau Legislative District 9


AIAudio - Juleigh Chin for Nassau Legislative District 9

VP9NL261021_photos

The 10th District includes northwestern Nassau from Kings Point south to Lake Success, Great Neck and parts of Roslyn, Manhasset and Searingtown. 
Republican incumbent Mazi Melesa Pilip, 47, of Great Neck, first took office in 2022. In response to anti-Israel protests, she successfully sponsored a bill&nbsp;making it a misdemeanor to wear face coverings in public except for health and religious reasons. Pilip did not speak out when Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman carved out an exemption to the law for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working in Nassau. She did not meet with the editorial board. 
The Democratic challenger, Skylar A. Epstein, 26, of Great Neck, speaks of a generational frustration that government doesn't work for them, specifically noting the lack of help for young people trying to afford housing on Long Island.&nbsp;He is concerned about the environment and rising antisemitism. But Epstein, a law student, doesn't yet have a grasp of how a local legislator can effectively address those issues. 
Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement.

VP10NL261021

No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 10

Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 10

AIAudio - No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 10


Copy Of EN_NL10

The 11th District includes most of the Port Washington peninsula and the east side of Hempstead Harbor from Roslyn Harbor to Glen Cove. 
After 15 years, Delia M.&nbsp;DeRiggi-Whitton says she's never seen the county legislature's dynamic&nbsp;as dysfunctional and partisan as&nbsp;it is now. As the minority leader, she's frustrated. "It's like we don't exist unless they [the Republicans] need us to bond," she said, referring to the supermajority of votes&nbsp;needed to authorize borrowing. 
But even within that difficult situation, DeRiggi-Whitton, a Glen Cove Democrat,&nbsp;is a persistent force,&nbsp;standing up to actions she opposes&nbsp;and meeting&nbsp;her constituents' needs. 
And she has a vision for the future.&nbsp;DeRiggi-Whitton, 58, pictures a time when&nbsp;the legislature is "more rational," when opioid settlement dollars are distributed, the special deputy sheriff&nbsp;program ends, officials tackle the assessment system,&nbsp;and every district gets&nbsp;its funding for special projects. 
Sea Cliff Republican John Canning has been a fixture in Nassau County for decades. As an original member of the 1996 county legislature, Canning remembers a very different time, when public hearings and debate were the norm — and he'd like to bring that back. With a booming voice and boisterous personality, Canning, 63, talks of working across the aisle and being a "spokesperson for the views and values of the community." He's particularly critical of&nbsp;the Propel NY Energy transmission line, which he says will adversely impact communities. "Do you have to destroy the environment in order to save it?" he asks.&nbsp; 
Canning's experience in how an independent legislature operates&nbsp;should be embraced by today's GOP lawmakers.&nbsp;But DeRiggi-Whitton is the experienced leader the district and county need now. 
Newsday Opinion endorses DeRiggi-Whitton.

VP11NL261021

Delia M. DeRiggi-Whitton for Nassau Legislative District 11

Newsday Opinion endorses DeRiggi-Whitton for Nassau Legislative District 11

AIAudio - Delia M. DeRiggi-Whitton for Nassau Legislative District 11


AIAudio - Delia M. DeRiggi-Whitton for Nassau Legislative District 11

Copy Of slVOTE2026_DeRiggi_Whitton

The 12th District includes the southwestern part of the Town of Hempstead including Bellmore, Merrick and a small part of Wantagh. 
The 12th Legislative District faces a choice this year — between two Michaels from Merrick. 
When Republican incumbent Michael J. Giangregorio, 61, ran for his first full term in 2023, Newsday Opinion hoped he would "add new ideas and vigor." Instead, Giangregorio says little. 
Giangregorio, who has a son with autism, introduced Nassau County's Blue Envelope Program, which allows neurodivergent drivers to have a blue seat belt strap to alert police officers. That's a positive initiative, but Giangregorio shows little separation from the administration when more independent oversight is needed. 
Democrat Michael Vanunu, 40, is a worthy alternative. Vanunu, an attorney, says he assessed the county budget and calls it "a big house of cards." He's critical of Liberty Water and supports municipalization, promising he will be diligent about raising his voice in every forum to get the conversion done. He's well-versed in the county's challenges and the legislature could use his energy. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Vanunu.

VP12NL261021

Michael Vanunu for Nassau Legislative District 12

Newsday Opinion endorses Vanunu for Nassau Legislative District 12

AIAudio - Michael Vanunu for Nassau Legislative District 12


AIAudio - Michael Vanunu for Nassau Legislative District 12

Copy Of slVOTE2026_Vanunu

The 13th District includes Salisbury, East Meadow and parts of Levittown. 
Thomas McKevitt, 55, of East Meadow, an attorney, was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2017, having previously served in the Assembly. As deputy presiding officer, the Republican is well-briefed on county and district issues from infrastructure to housing development to veterans help. He is a strong supporter of renewable energy programs for local businesses. 
Democrat Christina&nbsp;M. Lemyre, 37, of Levittown, shows a good familiarity with the district and what people need. She is a member of Insulators Local 12, a building-trades union, and an energetic believer that listening to each other will foster change. She wants to expand employment training opportunities for young adults. Lemyre shows promise but McKevitt has a wealth of experience. 
Newsday Opinion endorses McKevitt.

VP13NL261021

Thomas McKevitt for Nassau Legislative District 13

Newsday Opinion endorses McKevitt for Nassau Legislative District 13

AIAudio - Thomas McKevitt for Nassau Legislative District 13


AIAudio - Thomas McKevitt for Nassau Legislative District 13

VP13NL261021_photos

The 14th District includes Lynbrook and parts of Valley Stream. 
Last November, Cynthia Nuñez of Valley Stream brought the only good election-night news for the Nassau County Democrats by winning the 14th Legislative District seat held for 10 years by Republican C. William Gaylor III. 
Since taking office in January, Nuñez, 48, has earnestly taken on new tasks. The Democrat focuses on essential services and works with both major parties where needed. Earlier this month, she presented more than $291,000 in Community Revitalization Program grants to the Lynbrook police and fire departments to upgrade equipment. She also helped coordinate responses from different agencies last winter when difficult snow removal at bus stops took days. 
Republican Anthony B. Capone, 32, a former Valley Stream fire chief, owns collision repair shops. He supports job training programs in auto mechanics. Recently, Newsday's news division reported he pleaded guilty to reduced charges in two criminal cases for misdemeanor assault, in incidents from 2014 and 2018. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Nuñez.

VP14NL261021

Cynthia Nuñez for Nassau Legislative District 14

Newsday Opinion endorses Nuñez for Nassau Legislative District 14

AIAudio - Cynthia Nuñez for Nassau Legislative District 14


AIAudio - Cynthia Nuñez for Nassau Legislative District 14

Copy Of SLVOTE2026_Nunez

The 15th District includes the eastern part of the Town of Hempstead including Wantagh, North Wantagh, Seaford and parts of Levittown. 
Wantagh Republican Kayla Lianne Knight, an attorney, was elected last fall to replace John Ferretti after he became Hempstead Town supervisor. Knight, 28, has done little in her debut in office this year. She sticks to the party's platform and has presented few new ideas. She did not meet with the editorial board. 
Democrat David Louis Boldt Smith, 66, of Wantagh, is the former president of St. Paul's School of Nursing in Staten Island. He spotlights the "fairly unique affordability crisis" in the district which he attributes to expensive bills from Liberty Water, and supports municipalizing it. He also points to the need for more funding for pre-K seats in the district's schools.&nbsp;Smith cares about his community, but doesn't have a clear understanding of the county's role in such topics. 
Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement.

VP15NL261021

No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 15

Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 15

AIAudio - No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 15


VP15NL261021_photos

The 16th District includes Jericho, Plainview, Old Bethpage and parts of Woodbury and Farmingdale. 
For nearly a decade, the 16th District has been ably represented by Democrat Arnold W. Drucker, the deputy minority leader. His retirement left an opening for two newcomers to Nassau County’s political landscape. Jared S. Behr's name may sound familiar; his family owns a children’s furniture store that has been a fixture in the county. 
But Behr, a Plainview Democrat, has carved his own path, as a Suffolk County prosecutor, a past candidate for Oyster Bay Town supervisor, and owner of a small law firm. 
Behr, who turns 42 next week, says he’d like to continue the legacy of Drucker and former Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs, who held the seat earlier. He promises to prioritize combating antisemitism, ensure full county staffing, especially for social services and children, and insist on more transparency on county spending. "I am somebody who will work with anybody," Behr said. 
Plainview Republican Olivia G. Pfeifer, 22, a full-time college student, did not meet with the editorial board. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Behr.

VP16NL261021

Jared S. Behr for Nassau Legislative District 16

Newsday Opinion endorses Behr for Nassau Legislative District 16

AIAudio - Jared S. Behr for Nassau Legislative District 16


AIAudio - Jared S. Behr for Nassau Legislative District 16

Copy Of slVOTE2026_Behr

The 17th District includes Hicksville, Bethpage and parts of Farmingdale and North Massapequa. 
First elected in 2009, Hicksville Republican Rose Marie Walker, 75, has been an enduring presence in her district and a stalwart in the GOP-dominated county legislature. 
Walker continues to be a strong advocate for first responders in her district and the county, and seeks ways to improve recruitment and retention. In her decades of public service, she has amassed an impressive resume of community service in multiple organizations. 
Democrat Ryan J. Johnson, 34, of Bethpage, is an attorney with keen ideas, like upgrading walkable communities to improve safety while enhancing business opportunities. He criticizes long-serving elected officials for not listening directly to constituents. He is against the county’s overspending on outside legal firms and worries about water quality in the wake of federal funding cuts. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Walker.

VP17NL261021

Rose Marie Walker for Nassau Legislative District 17

Newsday Opinion endorses Walker for Nassau Legislative District 17

AIAudio - Rose Marie Walker for Nassau Legislative District 17


AIAudio - Rose Marie Walker for Nassau Legislative District 17

Copy Of votersguidemissingnames2026

The 18th District includes most of northern Oyster Bay Town, Old Westbury, East Hills, Muttontown and Brookville, plus parts of Roslyn and Syosset. 
A 41-year-old lawyer and Bayville resident, Graham T. Musynske doesn't cite grandiose goals in his bid for the Nassau County Legislature. Rather, he seems to start with a sense of voting procedures and ways to improve transparency — basic civic processes. 
Musynske would expand the Democratic caucus if he defeats Republican incumbent Samantha A. Goetz, 38, of Locust Valley, who won a second term last year with 53% of the vote. 
Musynske told the editorial board that in two years he'd like to say the county has a revitalized website where you can see the roll-call votes in committees and what is being proposed. 
The modest proposal, while made in earnest, carries the message that the insular GOP majority flouts basic civic transparency. 
Goetz is in her second term, a shortened one due to the even-year voting law. She did not meet with the editorial board. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Musynske.

VP18NL261021

Graham T. Musynske for Nassau Legislative District 18

Newsday Opinion endorses Musynske for Nassau Legislative District 18

AIAudio - 
	FULL NAME for Nassau Legislative District #



AIAudio - FULL NAME for Nassau Legislative District #

Copy Of slVOTE2026_Musynske

The 19th District includes Massapequa and North Massapequa. 
There are two names on the ballot for this seat in&nbsp;the legislature, but voters don't&nbsp;have much of a choice. 
"There's just no way of winning," said Christine Barlow, a Massapequa Democrat who is not actively campaigning because of the heavily Republican registration of the area. 
Barlow, 55, has volunteered for national campaigns. Locally, she&nbsp;thinks her&nbsp;district's&nbsp;needs are met. 
Incumbent James D. Kennedy, 54, did not meet with the editorial board.&nbsp;The Massapequa Republican has served in the legislature since 2015, but does not lead on any issue. His record is slim. Hosting a handful of workshops for residents is not enough. 
Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement.

VP19NL261021

No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 19

Newsday Opinion makes no endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 19

AIAudio - No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 19


Copy Of EN_NL19

Newsday Opinion's 2026 Nassau County Legislature election endorsements

onecms:362ea294-5749-4c9d-913c-5c07be437b75

Newsday

VPNASSAUOVERVIEW

Sign up for the Endorsements newsletter

Endorsements Newsletter Signup Widget

Endorsements - megaslot

Travel

Real Estate

Newsday Live

Classifieds

Cars

Jobs

Mahjongg

Weather

Data and Maps

Stay logged in.