Westchester County, New York - Politics

Politics

Although the county historically leaned Republican, it swung Democratic in the early 1990s – much like other New York City suburbs. In the most recent national elections, Westchester voters tended to be far more Democratic than national average. In fact, Westchester, after New York City and Albany County, has produced the biggest margins for statewide Democrats in recent years. Democratic voters are mainly concentrated in the southern and central parts of the county. More than 63% of Westchester County voters voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race, the seventh-highest percentage of any New York county, behind four New York City boroughs and Albany and Tompkins counties.

Currently, two of the three U.S. congressional representatives from Westchester County are Democrats. Nita Lowey and Eliot Engel, both of whom are Democrats, represent most of the rest of the county (Engel's district also includes parts of the Bronx and Rockland County, and Lowey's also reaches into Rockland County) in Congress. Westchester's third representative is Republican Nan Hayworth, who was elected in 2010, defeating Democratic incumbent John Hall. As of September 25, 2012, Roll Call considered Nan Hayworth's relection against former West Wing Senior Advisor to President Bill Clinton Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney a “toss up” and one of the most closely watched races in the county. Democrats have made her a top target in the 2012 election. On June 11, 2012, President Bill Clinton announced his endorsement of Maloney, saying "I support Sean because I know he’ll be an outstanding member of Congress."

However, Westchester County is less Democratic in state and local elections. For instance, it voted for Republican George Pataki, by a margin of 23.07% against Democratic candidate, Carl McCall in the gubernatorial race of 2002, and by 26.22% in 1998. Pataki hails from Westchester, where he previously served as mayor of Peekskill prior to being elected governor.

Former County Executive Andrew Spano is just the second Democrat to hold the post in at least a half-century. In 2006, county legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins defeated 20 year incumbent Nicholas Spano (unrelated to Andrew) for a seat in the New York State Senate in a rematch of the 2004 race, which she lost by only 18 votes. Assembly Member Mike Spano (brother of Nicholas) switched parties in July 2007 to become a Democrat. Current district attorney Janet DiFiore also switched parties from Republican to Democratic in August 2007. In 2009, Republican Rob Astorino ousted three-term county executive Andy Spano, who had the endorsement of the New York Conservative Party, winning in a landslide. Astorino became the first Republican county executive since Andrew O'Rourke, who left the post after the 1997 election. In 2011, the GOP broke the Democratic two-thirds majority in the county legistature by picking up two seats. The current composition is 10 Dem to 7 GOP.

Westchester County was the home of former vice-president Nelson Rockefeller, who occupied the Kykuit mansion of the Rockefeller family 3,400-acre (14 km2) estate after the death of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.; it is situated near the hamlet of Pocantico Hills.

The county is also home to the former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who live in Chappaqua. Former First Lady Barbara Bush grew up in Rye.