WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — Democrat Ken Jenkins has won the Feb. 11 special election for Westchester County Executive, making history as the first African American elected to lead the county.
His Republican opponent, Christine Sculti, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, called Jenkins to concede the race on Tuesday night. While the Westchester County Board of Elections has yet to make the results official, the unofficial tally gave Jenkins 64 percent of the vote (57,590-32,956), a 28-point margin over Sculti.
Jenkins was appointed county executive by the Westchester County Board of Legislators in early January after then-County Executive George Latimer left to assume his seat as U.S. representative for New York’s 16th Congressional District.
In a victory speech to supporters at Kanopi in White Plains, Jenkins said he was honored and humbled to serve, pledging to fulfill the remainder of Latimer’s term, which ends on Dec. 31.
“This victory is a victory for all of Westchester,” he said, expressing gratitude to his supporters, family, Governor Kathy Hochul and those who braved the winter weather to cast their ballots, among others.
"In this time, when many people are feeling disheartened, and they're disturbed by that chaos in Washington, we built a winning campaign by offering hope and stability and results," Jenkins said. “My administration's going to be compassionate, sensitive to all people's rights, and will strive to improve the rights and lives of our hard-working Westchester people."
Jenkins, who called Westchester “a unicorn,” said he will serve all people across the county.
“We know we have more work to do,” he said. “We know there is nothing, nothing that we can't do together.”
Another election will be held in November for a full four-year term. Sculti previously indicated she planned to run again.
This story has been updated to reflect the latest vote count.
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