Mattera Wins Reelection to State Senate

Republican incumbent Mario Mattera retains the 2nd Senate district seat while Democrats flip a long-held Republican Assembly seat in Huntington.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections

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Mario Mattera won reelection to the state Senate 2nd district on November 3, 2026, receiving 54.19% of the vote in an unofficial Suffolk County Board of Elections tally. In the 12th Assembly district, Democrat Craig Herskowitz defeated Republican David Weber Jr., 51.55% to 48.39%, flipping a seat long held by Republicans.

Why it matters

The results shift representation in Huntington, where a Republican-held Assembly seat changed hands to Democrats and a Republican state senator retained his seat. Mattera's reelection keeps him in position to pursue infrastructure funding for the district, including rail electrification and sewer capacity.

Mattera received 54.19% of the vote in the 2nd Senate district, while Democrat Craig Herskowitz won the 12th Assembly district with 51.55% against Republican David Weber Jr.'s 48.39%. These figures come from an unofficial Suffolk County Board of Elections tally, and the article does not confirm whether results are certified.

The players

Mario Mattera

Republican state senator representing the 2nd Senate district, who serves as ranking member of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications.

Craig Herskowitz

Democrat who won the 12th Assembly district seat, also running on the Working Families line.

David Weber Jr.

Republican candidate who lost the 12th Assembly district race after a roughly 10-month campaign and serves as a trustee in Northport Village.

The details

Voters in two Huntington districts cast ballots on November 3, 2026. Keith Brown, a Republican first elected in 2020, did not seek reelection in the 12th Assembly district, opening the seat that Democrats flipped after Weber's roughly 10-month campaign.

November 3, 2026: Election day in the Huntington districts; Huntington Republicans gathered in Halesite to watch results.
2020: Keith Brown first elected to the 12th Assembly district.
Next legislative session: Mattera plans to seek state funding for electrifying the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson branch and $200 million for Route 110 sewer capacity.

Political Context

The Democratic flip of the 12th Assembly district seat breaks a long pattern of Republican control in the district, which Keith Brown held after his first election in 2020 before he chose not to seek reelection. Republican opposition in the district now faces a Democratic representative in Albany, shifting the balance on local legislative priorities.

Huntington residents now have a Democrat representing the 12th Assembly district, while Mattera's reelection keeps existing state funding requests for local rail and sewer infrastructure on his agenda. Constituents should expect the pending infrastructure proposals to move through Albany when the next session begins.

The takeaway

Election results in a single district can reshape local representation, so tracking how newly seated officials act on their campaign priorities will show what these outcomes mean for Huntington in practice.

What happens next

Mattera plans to seek state funding next legislative session for electrifying the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson branch and $200 million for expanding Route 110 sewer capacity.