MOUNT PLEASANT – Republican former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino formally announced his candidacy for the 40th State Senate seat currently held by Democrat Pete Harckham.
The district includes portions of Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties.
“New York is being challenged as perhaps never before, and it’s imperative that taxpayers be vigorously defended in the coming legislative term,” Astorino said.
“There are many in Albany already calling for dramatic new tax hikes, and middle class families can’t afford to pay a penny more, Without firm, common-sense voices at the table to push back against tax hikes – not to mention ill-conceived criminal justice blunders like cashless bail that’s putting danger criminals back onto our streets – the steady flow of families abandoning New York could become a torrent. We must not let that happen.”
Harckham welcomed Astorino into the race. “In 2018, I was elected to the State Senate because voters rejected Donald Trump’s divisive and reckless politics. And I am confident that voters will send me back to Albany in November because they are even more ready this year to say ‘no’ to Trump and surrogates like his close friend Rob Astorino.”
Astorino served as Westchester County executive from 2010 to 2017 and ran unsuccessfully for governor after that.
The 53-year-old Mount Pleasant resident touts his record as county executive submitting eight straight budgets without a tax increase and creating a bipartisan governing coalition.
