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Updated: A guide to the 2018 state Senate elections

Sep
27
2018

TOSS-UP (4)

DISTRICT 5
Carl Marcellino (incumbent) vs. James Gaughran

Counties: Nassau and Suffolk
Last election: Marcellino 50.6 percent, Gaughran 49.4 percent
2016 presidential election: Clinton +3
Voter registration: 77,226 active Democrats, 72,256 active Republicans, 58,196 non-affiliated

State Sen. Carl Marcellino has held his seat for 23 years. However, he had a razor-thin margin of victory 2016 of only 1.2 percentage points. Gaughran, the Suffolk County Water Authority chairman who nearly beat Marcellino two years ago, is running again. In what could possibly be a boon for Gaughran as well is the fact the district pivoted in the 2016 presidential election. It was carried by Mitt Romney in 2012, but was carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016. Additionally, Steve Stern managed to flip the 10th Assembly District blue for the first time in 40 years in his special election. That district heavily overlaps with Marcellino’s. Gaughran has nearly $129,000 on hand, compared to Marcellino’s $111,000, according to their most recent filings in July.| read more ››

Gaughran Endorsed By Child Victims Act Backer, Gun Control Group

Sep
20
2018

Democratic state Senate candidate Jim Gaughran on Thursday picked up the endorsements of Long Islanders Against Gun Violence and Gary Greenberg, an upstate businessman who is one of the prominent supporters of the Child Victims Act.

Gaughran, running for the Long Island district represented by Republican Sen. Car Marcellino, pledged to push both issues if elected.

The Child Victims Act is meant to make it easier for the survivors and victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits. The measure has stalled in the Republican-led state Senate.

Lawmakers earlier this year approved the first gun control legislation since the SAFE Act in 2013, a measure that blocks those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing a firearm....| read more ››

Senate Democrats Hope For Blue Wave As Republicans See Red

Sep
17
2018

The state Senate next year will look like a different place.

Seven Democratic incumbents lost their primary bids last Thursday, while five Republicans are retiring — an unnaturally large amount of churn for the 63-member chamber that’s become the focal point for liberals and the final lever of GOP power statewide in New York.

Battle for control of the chamber won’t be played out in just in enclaves of New York City, but suburban districts.

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, were practically giddy at the turnout last Thursday and the potential to have it continue through November.

And already, traditional allies of Republicans are backing their candidates.

The Long Island Contractors Association on Oct. 29 will host a fundraiser for Jim Gaughran,...| read more ››

Contractors association honors Democrat Jim Gaughran

Sep
17
2018

In a major surprise, the Long Island Contractors' Association, which represents the construction industry, has named Democratic state Senate challenger Jim Gaughran as this year’s “political action committee honoree” in a year Republicans are fighting to hang onto their slim majority in the chamber.

The honor — a first for a Democratic Senate challenger — was disclosed before 200 people at the group’s legislative breakfast last Friday in Hauppauge. Only two GOP Senate candidates — incumbent Phil Boyle, who faces Democrat Louis D'Amaro in the 4th District, and Assemb. Dean Murray, running against Democrat Monica Martinez in the 3rd — were present.

Marc Herbst, contractors' association executive director, said the industry’s “major litmus test ... is that we want a...| read more ››

Laborers Endorses In Key Senate Races

Sep
4
2018

The labor group LIUNA-NY on Tuesday endorsed candidates running for the state Legislature, nods that include the backing of candidates in key swing districts for the state Senate.

The group backed Democrats Monica Martinez, Jim Gaughran, Anna Kaplan, John Brooks, James Skoufis and Karen Smythe. And the organization is supporting former members of the Independent Democratic Conference, including Sens. Jose Peralta, Marisol Alcantara, David Carlucci and Jeff Klein.

Among Republicans in potential tossup races, LIUNA-NY is backing Sen. Terrence Murphy as well as Annie Rabbit.

“LIUNA-NY supports candidates that will advance the unionized construction industry, prioritize construction safety, and fight for job creation in New York State. We believe this list of incumbents and challengers sees the value in uplifting...| read more ››

State Senate candidates endorsed by AFL-CIO

Aug
30
2018

A couple of New York State Senate candidates were endorsed by the AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood NYC.

The AFL-CIO endorsed Jim Gaughran for senator for the 5th District seat. Gaughran said he felt honored by the endorsement from the union and its constituents on Long Island.

“I am proud of my efforts to protect the rights of organized labor and to stand up to attacks from anti-union forces,” said Gaughran in a statement. “As a state senator, I will ensure that more New Yorkers have access to the good paying jobs, fair benefits and safe working conditions they deserve. Our state was the birthplace of the organized labor movement, and we know that strong unions are the foundation of the...| read more ››

Senate incumbents face the consequences of the teacher evaluations fight

Aug
26
2018

An effort to change how student test scores factor into performance evaluations for public school teachers seemed to be a done deal just two months ago, but the failure of the state Senate to pass a bill in the waning days of the legislative session is coming back to haunt incumbents in both parties.

New York State United Teachers has promised a “tremendous show of force” against the five Democrats who voted for a Republican bill that tied the proposed changes to evaluations to more funding for charter schools. The union did not endorse any Democrat who voted for the bill, and has also poured money into the campaign of Jim Gaughran, a Democrat who is challenging Republican state Sen....| read more ››

Upcoming NRA fundraiser in New Hyde Park faces backlash

Aug
24
2018

NEW HYDE PARK - The Nassau County Friends of the NRA is hosting its annual banquet fundraiser in September at The Inn at New Hyde Park, but some residents are speaking out against the event.

"We are allowed to use our voices to say we don't want this in our backyard," said Jacqueline Braunstein.

Tickets begin at $65 for tickets to the fundraiser, which features gun auctions and raffles. People opposed to the event are asking the catering hall where it will be held to reconsider hosting it.

"I think it is outrageous they would be doing this at this time under these circumstances," said Jim Gaughran, a candidate for New York State Senate in the 5th District.

The manager...| read more ››

Reversal of fortunes for Gaughran

Aug
23
2018

In yet another reversal from two years ago, the New York State AFL-CIO announced Tuesday, August 21 its endorsement of Democrat James Gaughran in his run against incumbent Republican Carl Marcellino in the Fifth State Senate District.

Two years ago, Mr. Marcellino held off Mr. Gaughran in a close race. In the 2016 campaign, the AFL-CIO endorsed Senator Marcellino. At its convention this week, however, the AFL-CIO voted to endorse Mr. Gaughran.

The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families.

“This is a huge boost to my campaign. Two years ago they endorsed my opponent and this is...| read more ››

Long Island Inn Draws Ire of Locals for Hosting NRA Fundraiser

Aug
23
2018

A Long Island inn that’s hosting an NRA fundraiser has drawn the ire of locals who want the facility to cancel the gathering.

The Nassau County Friends of NRA plans to hold its annual “banquet fundraiser” at The Inn at New Hyde Park, in New Hyde Park, on Sept. 27, according to its Facebook page.

A number of residents who live near the inn, however, have called on the venue to cancel the banquet.

The event, which will feature gun auctions and raffles, has been touted as a dinner for “champions of the Second Amendment.”

“My 7-year-old has to do active shooter drills. That’s not something that we had to deal with when we were children and I think that’s...| read more ››

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