STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The campaign trails are coming to a close. It’s time for voters to decide who they want to represent them for the next two to four years.
New Yorkers will cast ballots for 10 races in the general election – U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller, State Senate, State Assembly, New York City Civil Court and New York State Supreme Court – on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
If you did not vote early, Tuesday is the last day to vote in person, postmark an absentee ballot, or hand deliver an absentee ballot at a polling site.
Learn a bit about the candidates and the ballot proposals for the general election below:
U.S. SENATE
Charles Schumer (D, WF)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), who’s running for reelection on the Democratic and Working Family party lines, has served as a U.S. senator since 1999. Since then, the state’s senior senator has worked his way up to the top of his party becoming his chamber’s minority leader in 2017 and its majority leader in 2021.
A lifelong Brooklynite, Schumer has developed a reputation as a political guru with a focus on state issues on the local level. He previously served in the New York Assembly and in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He won his last bid for reelection in 2016 with 70% of the vote.
Joe Pinion (R, C)
Republican and Conservative candidate Joe Pinion’s campaign slogan is “take back the dream.” Much of his campaign website focuses on Schumer’s long career in office and the need for new leadership. An online campaign ad styles Schumer as a “dinosaur.”
A native of Yonkers, Pinion works as a conservative news commentator and hosted his own show on the Newsmax channel.
Diane Sare (I)
Diane Sare, LaRouche-line candidate, made some local noise recently when she and some of her supporters protested a College of Staten Island town hall held by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Their protest started as an anti-war crusade, but developed into audience members asking why Schumer wouldn’t debate Sare.
U.S. HOUSE — 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Nicole Malliotakis (R, C)
Incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, is the preferred candidate of the Conservative Party of New York State. Self-identifying as a “no nonsense leader,” Malliotakis advocates for government accountability and transparency, supporting law enforcement and securing the nation’s borders. The congresswoman previously represented the East Shore and South Brooklyn in the State Assembly.
Max Rose (D)
Former Democratic Rep. Max Rose is hoping to win his seat back from incumbent Congresswoman Malliotakis. Rose lost his congressional reelection bid in November 2020 to then-Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis by a margin of just over 18,000 votes. She received about 53% of the overall vote and about 55% of the vote in the Staten Island part of the district.
Upon announcing his candidacy, Rose said priorities haven’t changed much. He’s still focused on fighting back corruption in Washington; has serious concerns about public health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis; helping small businesses that have had a particularly hard time, as well as healthcare and child care concerns.
GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Kathy Hochul/Antonio Delgado (D, WF)
Governor Kathy Hochul is running for re-election as governor on the Democratic and Working Family lines. She served as New York’s lieutenant governor between 2014-2021, but took her current office in Aug. 2021 after former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a host of scandals.
Coming up through the Buffalo-area political ranks, Hochul developed a reputation as a conservative Democrat even earning an endorsement from the National Rifle Association in 2012 when she ran for re-election to a congressional seat representing part of western New York.
Since taking her office, Hochul has signed a variety of legislative packages, including one providing stronger support and protections for domestic violence victims and another creating a preservation trust benefiting the state’s public housing systems.
She’s also courted controversy with her $850 billion deal for a new Buffalo Bills stadium and her administrations purchase $637 million in COVID-19 rapid tests from a campaign donor in December and January.
Antonio Delgado stepped into the role of lieutenant governor in May following Brian Benjamin’s resignation amid allegations of campaign funding fraud. Prior, he practiced law and then represented New York’s 19th congressional district for three years. Hochul appointed Delgado to his current role as well as her running mate to replace Benjamin.
Lee Zeldin/Alison Esposito (R, C)
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Long Island) has represented New York’s 1st congressional district – eastern Long Island – since 2015. He previously practiced law and served in the U.S. Army.
His vision for the state includes undoing bail reform, allocating resources to expand the police force, promoting fracking, reducing taxes, reforming the state government, ending COVID-19 mandates and more.
Zeldin has made public safety his central campaign issue even having a few scares of his own when an audience member accosted him during an upstate campaign event, and there was a shooting incident outside his Long Island home while his daughters were home.
The public safety issue has helped the Republican narrow his polling differential with Hochul, but he’s been dogged by his stances against abortion and support of former President Donald Trump.
Alison Esposito, a former NYPD officer, is Zeldin’s running mate on the Republican Party and Conservative Party line.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Letitia A. James (D, WF)
Democratic and Working Families candidate Letitia James is no stranger to Staten Island — an almost-annual fixture at the Jerome “Jay” O’Donovan breakfast at Jody’s Club Forest before the Forest Avenue St. Patrick’s Parade and former New York City Public Advocate.
During her time in office, she has taken on a variety of powerful people and institutions, including former President Trump, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Amazon.
She won her first election in 2018 with about 64% of the vote.
Michael Henry (R, C)
Republican and Conservative candidate Michael Henry is a New York-based attorney primarily focused on commercial litigation, according to his campaign website.
Like most candidates this election cycle, Henry lists his primary issue as crime.
STATE COMPTROLLER
Thomas DiNapoli (D, WF)
The State Legislature appointed Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in 2007. He’s won three elections since then and is seeking his fourth time.
Comptrollers have a variety of duties, including overseeing the state’s $246 billion pension fund, and during his time in office, DiNapoli has developed a reputation as a reformer.
In a recent Sienna poll, the incumbent had a 24-point lead over his opponent.
Paul Rodriguez (R, C)
Paul Rodriguez, who styles himself as a “global financial expert” on his campaign website, hopes to unseat DiNapoli.
A Queens native, Rodriguez spent 25 years at various leading firms, including Salomon Brothers, Merrill Lynch, UBS, BBVA and ANZ.
STATE SENATE — 23RD DISTRICT
Democratic candidate Jessica Scarcella-Spanton — whose former boss is Sen. Diane Savino — raised her profile in the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic working as the senator’s director of operations helping people secure testing and vaccine appointments as they became available.
Following her time with Savino, Scarcella-Spanton worked as assistant director of government and community relations for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Scarcella-Spanton’s priorities include improving public safety, tackling gun violence, increasing access to health care and expanding childcare and after-school programs, according to her campaign website.
Joseph Tirone Jr. (R, C)
Small business owner and community advocate Joseph Tirone is taking on his second run for a state legislative position. In 2014, he challenged Assemblyman Michael Cusick (R-Mid Island) for his seat, finishing with 41.4% of the vote.
Tirone is aiming for the State Senate seat in the 23rd District, and is confident his extensive experience working in the community over the past eight years has prepared him for the role.
The founding broker of Compass Staten Island Real Estate has worked in residential and commercial real estate with involvement in a number of North Shore property sales.
He is a Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR) Community Service Award recipient and has been recognized for his response to COVID-19 emergency supply needs and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
STATE SENATE — 24TH DISTRICT
Andrew Lanza (R, C)
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) has served in his office since 2006 and last faced a Democratic challenger in 2012 when he won with about 78% of the vote.
Despite his staunch conservative stances, the longtime senator has worked across the aisle on several issues, including the maintenance of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge discount for Staten Islanders.
A former City Councilman for the South Shore, Lanza will become the Island’s longest serving official at the state level when Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Mike Cusick leave office at the end of the year.
STATE ASSEMBLY — 61ST DISTRICT
Charles Fall (D)
Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) is running for reelection to his seat, which he has held since 2019. He is the first Black Muslim to represent Staten Island in the State Assembly.
Fall previously served as Staten Island borough director for former Mayor Bill de Blasio, as well as the chief of staff to the New York City Parks Borough Commissioner for Staten Island.
Legislation that Fall has sponsored and successfully passed include policy to strengthen protections for minors from sex offenders, amending laws to enhance employee transparency, and protect access to urgent care facilities.
STATE ASSEMBLY — 62ND DISTRICT
Michael Reilly (R, C)
Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) took office in 2018 after former Assemblyman Ron Castorina left office.
That year the former police officer and president of the the community education council for District 31 faced a third-party challenge and won with about 89% of the vote. He hasn’t faced a challenger since.
STATE ASSEMBLY — 63RD DISTRICT
Sam Pirozzolo (R, C)
Republican and Conservative candidate Sam Pirozzolo is a former president of the community education council for District 31 and operated a family-owned optical practice for 33 years. He identifies as a strong advocate for law enforcement in favor of “refund[ing] the police.”
Pirozzolo is vehemently opposed to the state’s current bail reform policies and has said he would repeal them, if elected, as part of his plan to address public safety issues. He is also passionate about improving the education system and ending COVID-19 mandates.
Vincent Argenziano (D, I)
Democrat and Independent candidate Vincent Argenziano, a former chief of staff for outgoing Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), has served as deputy commissioner for the office of the Richmond County Public Administrator since 2019.
A moderate who lists public safety and community investment as his primary issues, Argenziano describes himself as a longtime Staten Islander who graduated from the College of Staten Island.
In addition to receiving his former boss’ endorsement, the candidate has accumulated a variety of endorsements from organizations and labor unions, including the Sergeants Benevolent Association, United Federation of Teachers, and the New York State Nurses Association.
STATE ASSEMBLY — 64TH DISTRICT
Michael Tannousis (R, C)
Republican and Conservative candidate Assemblyman Michael Tannousis took over Rep. Malliotakis’ old seat in the Assembly that covers Staten Island’s East Shore and southern Brooklyn after the congresswoman left.
He defeated Brandon Patterson, a former staffer for State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), in 2020. This year, the Republican, who was recently elected to lead the local party, will be unopposed on the ballot.
NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT — 13TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Voters will select three of three candidates on their given ballot lines.
Judith McMahon (D, R)
McMahon is a judge of the New York Supreme Court 13th Judicial District running for re-election. After working in the private sector, McMahon’s judicial career was launched in 2003 when she was elected to the New York City Civil Court of Richmond County. She was appointed an acting justice of the Supreme Court in 2006 and was officially elected a justice of the Supreme Court in 2009. She is the wife of District Attorney Mike McMahon.
Ann Thompson (D, R)
Thompson is running for judge of the New York Supreme Court’s 13th Judicial District. She was appointed acting justice in 2022. She is positioned to become the first woman of color elected to the 13th Judicial District of the State Supreme Court.
Brendan Lantry (D, R, C)
At age 35, Lantry became the youngest judge in New York City when he was ceremonially sworn in to the Civil Court of Richmond County in March. Lantry, who is the former Staten Island GOP chairman, championed the Civil Court seat in November 2021 with 75% of the vote, with more than 52,000 voters casting their ballots for him.
NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT — RICHMOND COUNTY
Matthew Santamauro, a native Staten Islander, served as a prosecutor in the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office before building his private practice.
“My career path has instilled in me the temperament and discipline to analyze the issues presented to judges every day,” the lifelong Staten Islander says on his campaign website. “If elected to serve you as Civil Court Judge for Staten Island, my priorities will be simple: I will use my knowledge and experience to reach fair, impartial and just decisions while maintaining an efficient courtroom.”
Mary Kavanaugh (R, C)
Mary Kavanagh, another lifelong Staten Islander, is currently the principal law clerk to New York Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio.
Before that, she served as a supervisor and litigator with the Administration for Children’s Services, and as a community coordinator at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs.
BALLOT PROPOSALS
Statewide
Ballot Question #1: Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022
Proposal 1 would have a say in the state’s ability to borrow millions of dollars to enhance climate change infrastructure, bolster community protections and fund a healthy environment, dubbed the “Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.” Total cost of the plan is $4.2 billion.
Specific allocations would include:
- Up to $1.5 billion for climate change mitigation
- At least $1.1 billion for restoration and flood risk reduction
- At least $650 million for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure
- Up to $650 million for open space land conservation and recreation
Citywide
Proposals 2-4 were written by the city’s Racial Justice Commission (RJC) which was tasked with identifying how systemic racism manifests in city government.
Ultimately, the commission’s goal is to increase equity among different racial groups by changing city laws that uphold and enable systemic racism and other identity-based systemic discrimination.
Ballot Question #2: Add a Statement of Values to Guide Government
This proposal would amend the New York City Charter to: Add a preamble, which would be an introductory statement of values and vision aspiring toward “a just and equitable city for all” New Yorkers; and Include in the preamble a statement that the city must strive to remedy “past and continuing harms and to reconstruct, revise, and reimagine our foundations, structures, institutions, and laws to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.” The preamble is intended to guide city government in fulfilling its duties.
Ballot Question #3: Establish a Racial Equity Office, Plan and Commission
Proposal 3, if passed, would do the following:
- This proposal would amend the City Charter to: Require citywide and agency-specific Racial Equity Plans every two years. The plans would include intended strategies and goals to improve racial equity and to reduce or eliminate racial disparities.
- Establish an Office of Racial Equity and appoint a chief equity officer to advance racial equity and coordinate the city’s racial equity planning process. The Office would support city agencies in improving access to services and programs for people and communities who have been negatively affected by previous policies or actions, and collect and report data related to equity.
- Establish a Commission on Racial Equity, appointed by city elected officials. In making appointments to this Commission, elected officials would be required to consider appointees who are representative of or have experience advocating for a diverse range of communities. The Commission would identify and propose priorities to inform the racial equity planning process and review agency and citywide Racial Equity Plans.
Ballot Question #4: Measure the True Cost of Living
This proposal would amend the City Charter to:
Require the city to create a “true cost of living” measure to track the actual cost in New York City of meeting essential needs, including housing, food, childcare, transportation and other necessary costs, without considering public, private, or informal assistance, in order to inform programmatic and policy decisions; and require the city government to report annually on the “true cost of living” measure.
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