Yorktown Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito is running for higher office.
The Republican will challenge incumbent Democratic state Sen. Pete Harckham in the 40th State Senate District, which includes Yorktown, Cortlandt, Mount Kisco, Somers, North Salem and Bedford in Westchester County; Carmel, Kent and Southeast in Putnam County; and parts of Rockland County.
Standing on the steps of Yorktown Town Hall on Saturday, flanked by local Republican officials from Westchester and Putnam counties, candidates, and small business owners, Esposito publicly declared his candidacy for the state Senate.
“It’s time to take action—it's time to take the fight to Albany,” Esposito said. “I'm the guy to do that it’s time to elect someone who does what he says and says what he does.”
He added that he believes, “it's time to elect someone who does what he says and says what he does.”
Esposito told Halston Media he has earned endorsements from both the Republican and Conservative parties in all three counties within the district and will not face a primary challenge.
In a press release announcing his candidacy, Esposito described a campaign focused on making the district and state more affordable, more business-friendly and safer while promising to work toward a more transparent and accountable Albany.
“As a small businessman and civil servant, I have seen firsthand how disastrous Albany’s we-know-best policies have been for utility ratepayers, small business owners and everyday people who struggle to make a living,” Esposito said.
He added that he believes “it’s time that the 40th Senate District had a representative who was going to take the fight to Albany and properly represent the people of the Lower Hudson Valley."
“We no longer can accept having someone serving as our representative who allows good-paying jobs to leave our area, fails to provide the necessary relief to ratepayers when their gas and electric bills skyrocket and routinely sides with a governor who so willingly accommodates New York City at the expense of the state’s other residents, including right here in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties,” Esposito said.
In addition to his Town Board work, Esposito serves as a Westchester deputy sheriff, previously served as president of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, founded a small business that services clients throughout the region and has also been a volunteer firefighter.
Esposito is an information technology vendor for Halston Media, the parent company of this newspaper.
An immigrant from Italy, Esposito said he is most proud of his family and the life they have built. He has been married to his wife, Carole, for 26 years and they have three children.
In his release, Esposito said that throughout his time on the Yorktown Town Board, he has worked to “successfully remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for businesses and residents, including the creation of 450,000 square feet of additional commercial space throughout the town and its downtown corridor.”
He said he is proud of his “track record on public safety, providing direct support for law enforcement, with a particular emphasis on prioritizing school safety, while also fostering strong community relationships.”
This year, SafeWise again ranked Yorktown No. 8 in New York in its 12th annual Safest Cities in New York report for 2026, placing the town among the state’s top 10 safest communities. It followed other Westchester towns, including Rye (No. 1), Bedford (No. 2) and Scarsdale (No. 3).
Yorktown Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman described Esposito as his “right hand.”
“We really need people who can lead, who can bring the teams together, and who could make it different in our state,” Lachterman said. “I can't think of a better person to run for a state Senate in District 40 than Sergio.”
Other officials praised Esposito’s work with small businesses, his commitment to law enforcement and first responders, and said he understands the needs of the people.
Vanessa Campos, who owns Don Pablo Authentic Mexican Cuisine and Tequila in the Yorktown Green Shopping Center, spoke in support and said he’s always shown up for her and her family.
“From day one, he has been there for us, not as a public official, but as someone who genuinely cares about people,” she said. “He takes the time to listen and understand, to find a real solution, and that kind of leadership is rare.”
She said to her, he lives his elected title.
“He shows up for our events, for our families, and for our community. He's hands on, deeply involved, and fully committed to the people he serves,” she said. “Sergio doesn't just talk about supporting small businesses. He lives it. He understands the challenges we face every day, from rising cost to navigating regulations.”
Esposito, who was the top Republican vote-getter in the November 2025 election for his Town Board seat, received the Putnam County Conservative Party endorsement for the seat.
Harckham is serving his fourth two-year term and announced last fall that he would seek reelection. He was first elected in 2018, when he defeated then-incumbent Sen. Terrence Murphy (brother of Yorktown Councilman Patrick Murphy). Harckham was reelected in 2020, defeating former County Executive Rob Astorino, and again in 2022 and 2024 with victories over Gina Arena.
Announcing his decision to seek reelection in a September 2025 press release, Harckham said there was still plenty to do for the district.
“Simply, the challenges ahead are too great for me to walk away from this important responsibility,” Harckham said in the announcement. “I look forward to a meaningful political discussion.”
Esposito thanked Harckham for his service but said “it is time for new leadership in Albany. It is time to elect someone who will fight for all New Yorkers. It is time to elect someone who does what he says and says what he does.”
Esposito said he is focused on issues impacting the 40th Senate District, which he said includes “high utility costs, affordability/quality of life issues, the state’s crushing tax burden and making the state more business friendly.”
He said living in New York is becoming less and less viable for middle- and working-class residents, who have been leaving for more affordable states.
“New York is a great place to live, but time and again, state government has failed our residents by routinely driving up their costs, forcing many of them to leave the place they love most because they can no longer afford to live here,” Esposito said. “Now is the time for us to address these issues and reverse the exodus from our state. For my family, for your family, and for all New Yorkers, it’s time we elected a representative who put the needs of New Yorkers first.”
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