Huntngton Democrats Flip Key Assembly Seat as Mattera Holds Senate District

Democrats captured the 12th state Assembly district in Huntington on November 3, ending a Republican hold on the seat while local Republicans retained control of the 2nd state Senate district. The mixed results marked a departure from the national trend in which Democrats flipped numerous Republican-held seats elsewhere.

Unofficial tallies from the Suffolk County Board of Elections show Democrat Craig Herskowitz defeated David Weber Jr. in the Assembly race. Herskowitz, who also ran on the Working Families line, received 51.55% of the vote compared to Weber’s 48.39%. In the neighboring 10th Assembly district, incumbent Democrat Steve Stern won re-election with 60.21% of the vote, defeating Tiffany LeGrow who received 39.73%.

Mario Mattera, a Republican from St. James, held his seat in the 2nd state Senate district for a fourth term. The 63-year-old senator received 54.19% of the vote, edging out Democrat Harjot Singh who received 45.77%. Mattera serves as the ranking member of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications and the ranking member of the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

Mattera stated that infrastructure is a top priority for his next session in Albany. He cited efforts to secure $12 million in funding for the replacement of the seawall in Asharoken. He also plans to seek state funding to electrify the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson branch between Huntington and Port Jefferson. Additionally, he aims to secure $200 million to expand the capacity of the sewer line running along Route 110 to the wastewater treatment plant at Bergen Point in West Babylon.

Huntngton Republicans gathered at American Legion Post 360 in Halesite to watch the results. Garrett Chelius, the Huntington Republican Committee Vice Chair, credited the local committee for a strong grassroots effort. He expressed pride in the work performed by volunteers who helped Mattera retain his seat.

David Weber Jr., 58, a Northport Village trustee and small business owner, ran for the Assembly seat vacated by Republican Keith Brown. Brown, first elected in 2020, did not seek re-election. Weber said he felt positive about his ten-month campaign, noting that affordability was the primary concern raised by voters. He cited high taxes and high utility costs as the main issues on the trail.

Mattera said he remained confident in his chances but did not take his re-election for granted. He noted that he always campaigns with the assumption that he is thirty points behind.