SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The polls have closed and the votes are in, as residents weighed in on their choice for the candidate in the New York State Assembly District 1 race, with incumbent Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democrat, facing off against GOP challenger Stephen Kiely.
As of 10:23 p.m., Schiavoni had taken the lead by a wide margin, with 26,401 votes, or 62.99 percent; Kiely had garnered 15,494 votes, or 36.97 percent, with 74 of 87 percent of districts reporting.
Assembly District 1 covers the East End towns of East Hampton, Southold, Shelter Island, and Southampton, as well as some of eastern Brookhaven Town.
Incumbent Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democrat who lives in North Haven, won his seat in 2024. According to his campaign website: "I have prioritized the East End's needs in Albany, delivering key funding and making the East End a more sustainable place to live. In my first term representing the First Assembly District, I have partnered with state, local, and federal leaders to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities. My priorities include improving water quality, increasing affordable housing opportunities, bettering our environment, improving mental health, championing public education, and supporting our law enforcement officers."
Challenger Stephen Kiely, a Republican and an attorney who lives in Mattituck and ran for the seat in 2024 — as well as previously for the Southold town board — has told Patch in a previous interview: "I am the only candidate that has 20 years of experience writing, interpreting, and enforcing laws, which is exactly the job of an assembly person. As a legislator, I would have to read, understand, and sponsor bills that could become law. These laws have a direct impact on constituents. My unique experience working in both land use and zoning (similar to former Assemblyman Fred Thiele) and criminal defense has provided me with unique skills to address the major housing, environment, and public safety issues this district is facing."
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