Blakeman Beats Curran In Absentee Ballot Count

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — With absentee and affidavit ballots all counted, the Republican Bruce Blakeman has officially defeated incumbent Democrat Laura Curran to become the next executive of Nassau County.

In the final vote completed Tuesday, Blakeman received 142,626 votes to Curran's 140,476.

"This is not the result we hoped for, but there is so much to be proud of," Curran said in a statement. "Four years ago, we promised to clean up the corruption and fiscal mismanagement that plagued county government, balance budgets and turn deficits into surpluses — and we did just that. My administration took on the tough fight of reassessment: transforming a broken system into one that is fair and accurate. Through strategic investments in community-based policing, my administration secured Nassau’s ranking as the ‘safest community in America.’ And together, we overcame a global health and economic crisis — rebounding as the region hardest hit by the pandemic to the highest vaccinated county in New York state.

“Our county must build on this progress, while preparing for the challenges ahead. I congratulate County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman on his victory, and wish him the best as he undertakes this important work."

Curran was trailing Blakeman by more than 11,000 votes on Election Night last week. But there were more than enough absentee ballots still to be counted that could have shifted the race in her favor. And while she closed the gap, she wasn't able to overcome Blakeman's lead.

According to the Board of Elections, the difference between their results is not small enough to initiate an automatic recount.

Blakeman had declared victory over Curran on Election Night, but Curran had not conceded the race.