Grechen Shirley Wins 2nd Congressional District Primary

Liuba Grechen Shirley has won the 2nd District Democratic Congressional primary. The first-time candidate defeated DuWayne Gregory 6,938 (58.1 percent) to 4,983 (41.8 percent), according unofficial results from the Nassau and Suffolk board of elections.

A longtime Democratic activist, Grechen Shirley has spent her career working with nonprofit groups around the world, and devoted much of her time fighting for women's economic empowerment.

She will face longtime Republican incumbent King, from Seaford, in the general election in November to represent New York's 2nd District.

"After nine months, tens of thousands of doors knocked and phone calls made, dozens of meet and greets, rallies, and a protest here or there, I’m honored and so deeply humbled to accept the Democratic nomination for New York’s 2nd Congressional District," Grechen Shirley said during a victory speech in front of enthusiastic supporters at Tula Kitchen in Bay Shore Tuesday night.

King is serving his 13th term, and defeated Gregory, currently a Suffolk County legislator, in 2016 with 62.5 percent of the vote.

"I thank Legislator Gregory for the passion he brought to this campaign and I look forward to working with him to accomplish what we both set out to do, flipping this seat blue in November," Grechen Shirley said.

The 2nd Congressional District spans Nassau and Suffolk counties, and includes Amityville, Babylon, Bay Shore, Blue Point, Bohemia, Brentwood, Brightwaters, Cedar Beach, Central Islip, Copiague, Deer Park, East Islip, Farmingdale, Gilgo, Great River, Holbrook, Islandia, Islip, Islip Terrace, Levittown, Lindenhurst, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, North Babylon, North Massapequa, Oak Beach, Oakdale, Ocean Beach, Ronkonkoma, Sayville, Seaford, West Babylon, West Islip, West Sayville, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch, and portions of Bethpage, Dix Hills, Hauppauge, Nesconset, Patchogue and Wantagh.