Harckham wins fifth NYS Senate term

State Sen. Pete Harckham has won a fifth term representing New York’s 40th Senate District, defeating Republican challenger Sergio Esposito by more than 26,000 votes, according to unofficial results.

Esposito, Yorktown’s deputy supervisor, conceded Saturday morning, Nov. 7, telling Halston Media he had called Harckham to congratulate him. When the senator did not answer, Esposito left a voicemail offering both congratulations and his support.

“Pete, it’s Sergio. I tried calling you. Congratulations on a great race. I really enjoyed the run,” Esposito recalled telling Harckham. “You have my full support and look forward to working together for the benefit of the people of Yorktown and New York State. Feel free to let me know if I can help in any way.”

Esposito said he intends to continue that work in his role as Yorktown’s deputy supervisor.

The concession reflected a friendly dynamic that drew notice during the campaign, with the candidates publicly exchanging warm embraces despite competing for the same seat.

The unofficial districtwide tally showed Harckham, a Democrat running on the Democratic and Working Families lines, with 80,381 votes to Esposito’s 53,872 on the Republican and Conservative lines—a margin of 26,509 votes.

Harckham received 58.84% of all ballots recorded in the race, compared with Esposito’s 39.44%, with the remainder consisting of blank, void and write-in ballots. Among votes cast for the two named candidates, the split was approximately 60% to 40%. The results remain unofficial pending certification.

Harckham’s advantage came from the Westchester County portion of the district, where he received 62,509 votes to Esposito’s 33,676.

Esposito led in the district’s portions of Putnam and Rockland counties. In Putnam, he received 16,783 votes to Harckham’s 15,031. In Rockland, Esposito received 3,413 votes to Harckham’s 2,841.

In a statement announcing his victory, Harckham’s campaign said he carried 13 of the district’s 15 towns, including Esposito’s hometown of Yorktown and three Putnam County towns he had not previously won. The campaign also said he received more votes within the district than any other Democrat on the ballot.

“While the results of this election are certainly a repudiation of the Trump agenda and those who supported it here in New York, my victory is also an affirmation of the tremendous amount of work my team and I have accomplished during the past eight years,” Harckham said.

Harckham cited more than $40 million in state investments secured for municipalities and first responders. He also pointed to legislation and investments in renewable energy and solar initiatives that he said would help lower utility costs.

His campaign described the result as his largest Senate victory margin. According to figures provided by the campaign, his previous margins grew from 3,017 votes in 2018 to 6,129 in 2020, 8,494 in 2022 and 11,922 in 2024.

Harckham also credited a coalition of supporters that included more than two dozen labor unions, elected officials, reproductive health care groups, environmental organizations and gun safety advocates.

“The support I have received during this campaign has been phenomenal, and I will continue to be engaged in the hard work necessary to keep moving New York forward,” Harckham said. “I thank the many volunteers and supporters who made this victory a reality.”