2017 Westchester County Board of Legislators elections

The 2017 Westchester County Board of Legislators elections were held on 7 November 2017 in conjunction with the 2017 Westchester County Executive election. The elections resulted in major gains for the Democratic Party[1] with the party flipping three previously Republican seats and control of the County Legislature from a Republican led Coalition. Benjamin Boykin became chair of the board and Catherine Parker Majority leader. Lohud attributed the major Democratic gains in heavily Democratic Westchester County as a reaction to the election of Donald Trump at the 2016 United States presidential election. The Democratic vote increased 6.71% as compared with the 2015 board of legislator elections. Democrats gained one seat they had previously left uncontested, the Peekskill based District 1 in addition to winning Districts 2 and 10 with their vote share increasing 8.13% and 5.48% respectively.

2017 Westchester County Board of Legislators election

← 2015 November 7, 2017 2019 →

All 17 seats on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Democratic Republican Conservative
Last election 9 7 1
Seats won 12 4 1
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3 Steady
Popular vote 123,701 55,310 8,117
Percentage 65.39% 29.24% 4.29%
Swing Increase 6.71% Decrease 6.81% Increase 0.11%

Electoral System

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Members of the Board of Legislators are elected every two years during the off-year elections. Elections are conducted using first-past-the-post in 17 single member districts. Like all partisan elections in New York, fusion tickets are used.

Results

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2017 Westchester County Board of Legislators Election Results[2]
Party Candidates Votes % % +/– Seats Seats +/–
Democratic 16 123,701 65.39%   6.71% 12   3
Republican 9 55,310 29.24%   6.81% 4   3
Conservative 1 8,117 4.29%   0.11% 1  
Independence 1 1,017 0.54% New 0 New
Working Families 1 650 0.34% New 0 New
Write-in N/A 380 0.20%   0.17% 0 0
Valid votes 28 189,175 84.12%   4.92% 17  
Blank votes 35,724 15.88%   4.92%
 Registered voters/Turnout 598,126[3] 37.6%   14.4%[4]
Source: Westchester County Board of Elections results

*Results are added up for the party each candidate is a member of, not fusion tickets.

Popular vote
Democratic
65.39%
Republican
29.24%
Other
5.37%

By district

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BOLD represents a flip and ITALICS represent a new legislator of the same party.

District Incumbent Party +/- D% Elected Legislator Party
1 John G. Testa Rep +43.86% John G. Testa Rep
2 Francis T. Corcoran Rep +8.13% Kitley Covill Dem
3 Margareta A. Cunzio Con +0.88% Margareta A. Cunzio Con
4 Michael B. Kaplowitz Dem –0.01% Michael B. Kaplowitz Dem
5 Benjamin Boykin II Dem +0.45% Benjamin Boykin II Dem
6 David B. Gelfarb Rep +53.03% Nancy E. Barr Dem
7 Catherine F. Parker Dem +7.04% Catherine F. Parker Dem
8 Alfreda A. Williams Dem +0.27% Alfreda A. Williams Dem
9 Catherine A. Borgia Dem –1.72% Catherine A. Borgia Dem
10 Sheila M. Marcotte Rep +5.48% Damon R. Mather Dem
11 James Maisano Rep N/A James Maisano Rep
12 MaryJane C. Shimsky Dem +0.06% MaryJane C. Shimsky Dem
13 Lyndon D. Williams Dem +0.09% Lyndon D. Williams Dem
14 Bernice Spreckman Rep –0.32% David J. Tubiolo Rep
15 Gordon A. Burrows Rep +6.58% Gordon A. Burrows Rep
16 Ken Jenkins Dem –15.34% Christopher A. Johnson Dem
17 Jose I. Alvadrado Dem +5.19% Jose I. Alvadrado Dem

Close races

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Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 6, 6.10% (gain)
  2. District 10, 6.14% (gain)
  3. District 15, 7.88%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Westchester County election results: 9 takeaways". 8 November 2017.
  2. ^ "2017 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections.
  3. ^ "2017 Enrollment Active" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections.
  4. ^ "2015 Enrollment Active | Westchester County Board of Elections" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections.