Early Voting Opens in East Hampton Amid High-Profile State and Local Races

Early voting has begun in East Hampton Town and will continue through Sunday, with the main Election Day scheduled for Tuesday. The town's designated voting location is the community room at the Windmill Village II senior citizens housing complex, situated at 219 Accabonac Road. Residents can cast their ballots there ahead of the official vote.

The ballot features contests for New York state governor, lieutenant governor, and statewide offices, alongside local races for town supervisor and highway superintendent. Governor Kathy Hochul, who took office following Andrew Cuomo's resignation in 2021, is running for a second term. She defeated Lee Zeldin in 2022. Her running mate is Adrienne Adams, a former New York City Council speaker. They appear on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.

Their opponents are Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood. The pair are running on the Republican, Conservative, and Vote Affordable tickets. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli seeks re-election against Joseph Hernandez, the senior managing partner of Blue Water Venture Partners. Attorney General Letitia James faces Saritha Komatireddy, a former DEA chief of staff, in the race for state attorney general.

Local attention focuses on the supervisor race, where incumbent Kathee Burke-Gonzalez seeks re-election. She appears on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines. Village Mayor Jerry Larsen is not on the ballot but has a write-in campaign supported by his followers. He previously challenged her in the primary. Stephen Lynch, the current superintendent of highways, is unopposed and appears on both major party tickets.

Voters will also select representatives for the state's First Congressional District. Representative Nick LaLota, a Republican, is seeking a third term. He faces Christopher Gallant, a Democratic candidate who is an Army National Guard pilot and former air traffic controller. In the state senate race, Anthony Palumbo, the Republican incumbent, runs against E. Christopher Murray, an environmental attorney. Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democrat, seeks a second term against Stephen Kiely, a former Shelter Island Town attorney.

County offices are also on the ballot. Vincent Puleo, the current Suffolk County clerk, seeks re-election on the Republican and Conservative lines. Abigail Field, a Cutchogue attorney, runs as a Democratic write-in candidate. Jon Estreich, a Democrat and Army Reserve major, challenges Daniel Losquadro, a Republican former state assemblyman, for Suffolk comptroller. The winner will replace term-limited John Kennedy.

The ballot includes judicial races for the 10th Judicial District. Voters may select up to eight Supreme Court justices. They will also choose four Suffolk County Court judges and three Family Court judges. These positions cover both Suffolk and Nassau Counties.