State Assembly 2024: Jean-Pierre Retires in Suffolk, Dem Primaries Go Forward in Nassau

Assemblymember Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-Wheatley Heights, Amityville, Lindenhurst) made a last-minute decision not to pursue reelection in the 11th Assembly District, located in the Town of Babylon. The local Democratic committee will name her ballot replacement, as signatures had already been submitted for Jean-Pierre. Republicans have backed retired NYPD Lt. Joe Cardinale of Amityville. Jean-Pierre won re-election by just 285 votes in 2022, but in 2020 the district voted 59-41% for now-President Biden (D) over then-President Trump (R).

In Nassau, Democrats have several primaries in the Town of Hempstead:

To replace State Senator Kevin Thomas (D) in the 6th District, Nassau County Legislator and North Hempstead Town Housing Commissioner Siela Bynoe of Westbury, State Assemblymember Taylor Darling of Hempstead, and former School Board President and Deputy Mayor Carmen Piñeyro of Freeport have all filed for a district that also includes Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Uniondale, Garden City, and West Hempstead. The winner of this primary will likely be the next State Senator here, as this district voted for President Joe Biden (D) by almost 40 points in 2020 over then-President Donald Trump (R) and is expected to repeat that strong showing.

To replace Assemblymember Taylor Darling (D-Uniondale, Roosevelt, Northeast Freeport) in the 18th District, Hempstead Village Trustee Noah Burroughs is competing against Lakeview Library Board President Lisa Ortiz. The Nassau County Democratic Committee and Working Families Party have both backed Burroughs, while former Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall, Sr. backs Lakeview Civic Association co-founder Ortiz. This primary will surely decide the next Assemblymember in a district that gave President Biden (D) 89% of the vote in 2020.

Former Assemblymember Judy Griffin (D-Rockville Centre) will face a challenge from “perennial candidate” Pat Maher in the Democratic primary before she can seek a rematch with Assemblymember Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook). In the “swing” 21st Assembly District, Curran defeated Griffin by just 138 votes after a recount in 2022, but Griffin defeated Curran in 2018 by 3,196 votes. The district supported President Biden (D) over then-President Trump (R) in 2020 but backed former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) over Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in 2022.  The 21st District also includes Baldwin, southwest Freeport, Malverne, and western Valley Stream.