Long Island News

Suffolk Democrats may have lost a seat in the county Legislature but maintained their edge on Election Day despite losses elsewhere.

Legis. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach) was down 243 votes to Republican challenger Thomas Muratore of Ronkonkoma by the preliminary count, although the results are still yet to be finalized. Riverhead Supervisor Phil Cardinale, a Democrat, was unseated by Republican Sean Walter by a similarly slim margin while Republican Bill Wilkinson beat Democrat Ben Zwirn for the recently vacated Easthampton Town Supervisor seat.

The usual party atmosphere and extended stage presence was missing at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall in Hauppauge on Election Night, as party leaders skipped the long thank you speeches for unopposed candidates like Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, while party loyalists lamented their losses.