No endorsement in Nassau Legislative District 15
Democrat David Louis Boldt Smith is facing Republican incumbent Kayla Lianne Knight. Both live in Wantagh.
Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board has selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2026
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. 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.
ENDORSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED solely by the Newsday editorial board, a team of opinion journalists focused on issues of public policy and governance. Newsday’s news division has no role in this process.
