Burke-Gonzalez Faces Write-In Challenge in East Hampton Town Race
Town Supervisor seeks re-election against a write-in campaign, while unopposed Stephen Lynch runs for superintendent of highways.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez faces a write-in challenge from East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen as voters head to the polls this week. Early voting runs through Sunday, with Election Day set for Tuesday. Burke-Gonzalez appears on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines for the town’s top executive post.
Larsen, who lost to Burke-Gonzalez in the primary, is not printed on the ballot. His supporters are urging voters to write his name in. Meanwhile, Stephen Lynch, the current superintendent of highways, runs unopposed on the Democratic and Republican lines for that position.
The ballot extends beyond local town offices to include statewide and county races. Voters will choose candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, and attorney general. The list also includes representatives for New York’s First Congressional District, state senator, and assemblyman.
Suffolk County offices are also at stake, including the clerk and comptroller positions. Additionally, voters will select Supreme Court justices for the 10th Judicial District. This district covers both Suffolk and Nassau Counties. County Court and Family Court judges are also up for election.
Governor Kathy Hochul seeks a second term after assuming the role in 2021. She defeated former Representative Lee Zeldin in 2022. Her running mate for lieutenant governor is Adrienne Adams, a former speaker of the New York City Council. They run on the Democratic and Working Families Party tickets.
Their opponents are Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood. Blakeman and Hood appear on the Republican, Conservative, and Vote Affordable tickets. The state comptroller race pits Tom DiNapoli, seeking re-election, against Joseph Hernandez, a venture partner.
State Attorney General Letitia James runs on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines. She faces Saritha Komatireddy, a former prosecutor and chief of staff for the Drug Enforcement Administration, on the Republican and Conservative Party tickets. In the congressional race, Representative Nick LaLota seeks a third term.
LaLota, a Republican, defeated John Avlon in 2022. He faces Christopher Gallant, a political newcomer who serves as an Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot. Gallant is also a former air traffic controller and union president. State Senator Anthony Palumbo, a Republican, seeks re-election against E. Christopher Murray, a Democratic environmental attorney.
Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democrat, seeks a second term. His opponent is Stephen Kiely, a former Shelter Island Town attorney. Kiely lost to Schiavoni by 12 percentage points in the 2024 campaign. Vincent Puleo, the Suffolk County clerk, runs for re-election on the Republican and Conservative Party lines.
Puleo faces Abigail Field, a Cutchogue attorney, in a Democratic-supported write-in campaign. In the Suffolk comptroller race, Democrat Jon Estreich faces Republican Daniel Losquadro. Estreich is an Army Reserve major and former prosecutor. Losquadro is a former legislator. The winner will succeed term-limited John Kennedy.
Voters in the 10th Judicial District can select up to eight Supreme Court justices. They will also choose four County Court judges and three Family Court judges. Early voting takes place in the community room at the Windmill Village II senior citizens housing complex. The site is located at 219 Accabonac Road in East Hampton.
