Election 2019: Democrats add two to majority in Westchester legislature The Republican Party caucus appears to have shrunk to two seats.

Mark Lungariello | Rockland/Westchester Journal News

Democrats appear to have added to their majority in the Westchester County legislature in Tuesday's elections, with results still being counted.

The party already holds a 13-4 majority on the board and appears to have flipped two Republican-held seats, according to unofficial results.

All 17 seats on the county Board of Legislators were up for reelection, but only six races were opposed - and Democrats won all of them.

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Out of the gate, with the 11 uncontested seats, Democrats already had a 9-person majority with two members of the Republican Party caucus also having secured another term.

Democrats appear to have won a northern Westchester County district for the first time and knocked out longtime Yonkers Legislator Gordon Burrows, according to unofficial totals.

The GOP would have to had a net gain of at least two seats to break a Democratic "supermajority" of 12.

Instead, the GOP appears to have lost two of its few existing seats. Republican Minority Leader John Testa didn't seek reelection and that seat appears to have gone blue for the first time in history, with Peekskill council member Colin Smith declaring victory over former city Mayor Frank Catalina.

"I'm honored and humbled by the trust the people of Northern Westchester have shown in me tonight. I'm committed to representing everyone in this district, regardless of party, over the next two years," Smith said in a statement.

Democrats were also leading in every other contested race. If the result holds, Burrows would be the only incumbent running in the legislature who lost his or her reelection bid..

County Republicans were looking to rebound after a Democratic blue wave meant big GOP losses in 2017. That year, Republicans had eight seats but held influence through a coalition majority with two Democrats. They lost four seats that year and also saw then-County Executive Rob Astorino ousted by Latimer.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in all 17 county legislative districts. Incumbents were running in every district except three.

Legislators serve two-year terms at an annual base salary of $49,200.

Contested races:

District 1:

Frank Catalina R, C, I

Colin Smith D, WF

Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown

Democrat Colin Smith declared victory over former Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina, a Republican, to replace the Board of Legislators Republican Minority Leader John Testa, who didn’t seek reelection.

District 2:

Kitley Covill D, I, WF

Gina Arena R, C

Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers

Incumbent Democrat Kitley Covill, a Katonah resident and attorney who was previously Yonkers’ first female inspector general, is seeking a second term. She had a commanding lead over Republican challenger Gina Arena.

District 4:

Michael Grace R, C

Vedat Gashi D, G, I, WF

New Castle, Somers, Yorktown

Vedat Gashi, a Yorktown Democrat, led former Yorktown Town Supervisor Michael Grace. The winner will replace ranking Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, a Somers Democrat, who didn’t seek reelection.

District 10:

Chris Garitee R, C, I

Damon Maher D, WF

Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe

Incumbent Damon Maher declared victory over Republican challenger Chris Garitee in a district that has been considered a battleground.

District 15:

Gordon Burrows, R, C, I, SAM

Ruth Walter, D

Bronxville, Yonkers

Bronxville's Ruth Walter, who owns Dobbs & Bishop FIne Cheese shop in the village, appeared to have unseated longtime lawmaker Gordon Burrows, a Yonkers Republican.

Walter had a strong showing against Burrows in 2017’s blue wave. Slightly more people voted on the Democratic Party line than Republican Party line that year, 5,616 to 5,607 but Burrows was boosted by votes he received on minor party lines.

District 9:

Catherine Borgia D, WF

Bob Outhouse R, C, G, I

Briarcliff, Cortlandt, Corton-on-Hudson, Ossining, Peekskill

Democrat Catherine Borgia, chairwoman of the county’s influential Budget and Appropriations Committee, had a strong lead with more than 60% of the vote over Republican Bob Outhouse, whom she also beat in 2017.

Uncontested races:

District 3:

Margaret Cunzio R, C. I

Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville

District 5:

Ben Boykin D, I, WF

White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison

District 6:

Nancy Barr, D, WF

Harrison, Port Chester, Rye Brook

District 7:

Catherine Parker D, WF

Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Rye

District 8:

Alfreda Williams D

Elmsford, Greenburgh, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown

District 11:

Terry Clements D, WF

New Rochelle, Pelham

District 12:

Maryjane Shimsky D WF

Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington

District 13:

Lyndon Williams D

Mount Vernon

District 14:

David Tubiolo, R, C, G, I, SAM

Mount Vernon, Yonkers

District 16:

Chris Johnson, D, WF

District 17:

Jose Alvarado, D, I

Yonkers

Alvarado will reclaim his former seat. Current Legislator Virginia Perez didn’t seek reelection this year.

Follow Mark Lungariello on Facebook: @lungariello; and Twitter: @marklungariello.