The Suffolk County Republican Committee formally finalized its slate of candidates for the 2026 election cycle in Medford at its convention last Friday.
With many hard-hitting nominations, this cycle will consist of one of the youngest slates in recent history.
Among the new generation of young leaders is Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville), who is nominated by the party for the open Eighth State Senate seat that is being vacated by Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville).
To replace Gandolfo in the Seventh Assembly District is newly-elected Islip Town Councilwoman DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia).
In the Fourth Senate District, which the GOP is looking to flip red, the party has gone with Brianne Wakefield (R-Bay Shore). The seat currently held by incumbent Senate Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood).
All three candidates share a common goal: improving their communities and advocating for what they believe their constituents need. Each has maintained a visible presence and has taken part in addressing local challenges, building name recognition and trust among supporters.
State Senate, District Four
The Fourth District includes, within the Town of Islip, Baywood, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, North Bay Shore, Pine Aire, and parts of Bay Shore, Brightwaters, Islandia, Islip hamlet, Ronkonkoma, and West Islip. Within the Town of Babylon, Deer Park, East Farmingdale, North Amityville, North Lindenhurst, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch, and parts of Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst, Melville, North Babylon, and West Babylon.
Brianne Wakefield said her campaign will focus on affordability, public safety, and family-focused policies. Drawing on her experience as a mother in a single-income household, she emphasized the rising cost of living in New York and supported cutting taxes and rolling back high-cost climate policies. Wakefield also highlighted bail reform and human trafficking as major concerns, noting her involvement with the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Board in anti-trafficking efforts. She framed her candidacy as driven by faith, family, and a desire to bring more balance to Albany, expressing optimism that Republicans can gradually regain seats in the State Senate.
“I am putting myself out there because this is a fight worth fighting. I have a family and community to look out for, and I don’t want to just sit back and watch things fall apart,” Brianne told The Messenger.
State Senate, District Eight
The Eighth Senate District includes Bayport, Bohemia, Fire Island, Great River, Islip Terrace, North Great River, Oak Beach, Oakdale, Saltaire, Sayville, and West Sayville, as well as parts of Bay Shore, Brightwaters, Captree-Oak Beach-Gilgo, East Islip, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islip hamlet, Ronkonkoma, West Bay Shore, and West Islip.
Gandolfo, 35, was first elected in November 2020 to his current seat at just 30 years old. He has since been an advocate for many issues regarding Suffolk County.
Gandolfo said his legislative record in Albany has centered on affordability, economic stability, and public safety, issues he argues remain top concerns for Long Island residents. He pointed to the financial strain facing young families trying to establish themselves in Suffolk and Nassau counties, as well as older residents weighing whether they can afford to retire locally. Gandolfo, a father of two young children, also referenced concerns over criminal justice policies and rising utility costs, saying State leadership must take a more balanced approach that protects both economic growth and household budgets.
“I think I have a good record of success in Albany to build off of,” Gandolfo told The Messenger after accepting his party’s nomination. “The issues remain the same: we need to get costs down, get wages up, and make sure people can stay and thrive on Long Island.”
Assembly, District Five
The Fifth Assembly District is split between the Towns of Brookhaven and Islip, containing the communities of Lake Grove and parts of Bohemia, Centereach, Farmingville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islandia, Lake Ronkonkoma, North Patchogue, Ronkonkoma, and Selden.
Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) is now seeking his fifth term in the Assembly. After a 2018 special election win, Smith has been re-elected by large numbers every two years.
A lifelong member of the community, Smith is a graduate of Sachem High School and St. Joseph’s University, New York, where he earned a degree in Mathematics and Adolescent Education. Prior to his election in 2018, he was a New York State–certified mathematics teacher for grades 7 through 12, bringing his background in education to his work in public service.
A standout career highlight for Smith was the immediate impact he made during his first term after winning the 2018 special election. Within his first 100 days in office, he secured State funding for key community improvements, including $60,000 for a new playground at Michael Murphy Park in Lake Ronkonkoma, $50,000 for safer signage along Middle Country Road in Centereach and Selden, and $13,000 for the Discovery Grove outdoor classroom at the Sachem Public Library. He also helped obtain $150,000 for Holbrook downtown revitalization projects, highlighting his early focus on local infrastructure and quality-of-life initiatives.
As the Ranking Member on the Assembly Education Committee, Smith has made preserving State Aid to school districts a top priority.
State Assembly, District Seven
The Seventh Assembly District includes, within the Town of Brookhaven, Blue Point, Patchogue, and parts of East Patchogue and Fire Island. Within the Town of Islip, Bay Shore, Bayport, Brightwaters, East Islip, Fire Island, Great River, Islip Terrace, North Great River, Oakdale, Ocean Beach, Saltaire, Sayville, West Bay Shore, West Sayville, and parts of Bohemia, Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, Islip hamlet, and West Islip.
DawnMarie Kuhn, 38, has already built a multifaceted career. Academically, she holds multiple advanced degrees in public administration, urban policy, and social science research, underscoring her commitment to data-driven governance and informed public policy. Professionally, Kuhn has extensive experience in both government and the private sector, including as a business owner.
She previously served as Chief of Staff to now-Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) in the Suffolk County Legislature, overseeing constituent services, coordinating policy initiatives, and managing day-to-day office operations. Then in November, Kuhn was elected to represent the Second District on the Islip Town Council.
Kuhn was hailed by party colleagues as a “great friend” and a “fixture in local Republican politics” for many years. They outlined the “dirty shots” she faced from Democrats in the 2025 Town race, but that she “took them in stride.”
Assembly, District Eight
The Eighth Assembly District includes the entire Town of Smithtown and portions of Central Islip, Hauppauge, and Islandia.
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) is looking to hold onto the seat he has held since 2003. Often referred to as the “most conservative” member of the Assembly, Fitzpatrick’s legislative priorities have included holding the line on spending and overhauling the State’s university system.
Assembly, District Nine
The Ninth Assembly District includes, within the Town of Islip, the Ninth District includes most of West Islip and parts of Baywood. It also includes portions of Babylon and Oyster Bay.
Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park), first elected in 2020, is running for a fourth term. The district is unique because of its overlapping portions of both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, representing a mix of suburban and coastal communities along the South Shore of Long Island. Durso serves on several committees, including Environmental Conservation, Labor, Science & Technology, Governmental Operations, and Transportation.
Assembly, District Twelve
The Twelfth Assembly District includes Baywood, North Bay Shore, Pine Aire, and parts of Brentwood within the Town of Islip, as well as parts of Huntington and Babylon.
Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) is hanging is up after serving three terms in the Assembly. Brown has made substance abuse and youth issues cornerstones of his tenure and has been able to win in a prime swing district dominated by the political quirkiness of the Town of Huntington.
“I am truly humbled. It has truly been an incredible honor, and I have loved serving the community where I grew up in the New York State Legislature,” said Brown in a statement, adding that he is proud to have been voted one of the most bipartisan members of the Assembly two years in a row, and for his work as Ranking Member on the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
The Suffolk GOP landed Northport Village Trustee Dave Weber (R-Northport) to succeed Brown. Weber has held several posts within the village and is an ex-captain of the Northport Fire Department. He is credited with advocating for beach cleanups, sugar kelp planting for harbor health, sewer expansions, and securing of grant funding for community projects.
