Halpin, Doroski lead stunning 2025 election results
It may not be a miracle, but a local pastor could be on the brink of unseating the two-time incumbent in the race for Riverhead Town Supervisor.
Jerry Halpin, a political novice, was on the precipice of stunning Tim Hubbard by an astonishing slim margin. Mr. Halpin led by six votes with officials counting the last 200 ballots in districts where he supposedly had a lead.
His performance only slightly overshadowed the upset pulled by Democrat Greg Doroski over Republican incumbent Catherine Stark in the 1st District Legislature battle.
In Riverhead Town Board races, incumbents Ken Rothwell and Bob Kern looked poised to fend off Democratic challengers Kevin Shea and Mark Woolley.
The Riverhead News Review will update the races when they are called and have complete coverage online on Wednesday and in Thursday’s print edition.
Waiting until the morning
12:20 a.m.: Due to reported technical issues with card readers in election districts, Ms. Robinkoff confirmed the results of the Riverhead town supervisor and council races are “uncertain.”
“We will know tomorrow morning,” she said, just after midnight. “I have faith in my candidates, and I’m sure we will prevail.”
Mr. Hubbard didn’t have much to say as he was “still waiting” on the results, but said the waiting is a “painful process.”
Glitch causes delay
11:35 p.m.: Ms. Robinkoff said she received word from the Suffolk County Board of Elections that there is a problem with election districts 12 and 22. She said there are 200 votes outstanding, and she “will wait.”
“The results are not uploading, we should have those results within an hour,” she said.
According to the county website, election districts 12 and 22 have been “partially recorded.”
Mr. Halpin is leading in both.
Fighting to the end
11:15 p.m.: The atmosphere is somber at the Riverhead GOP watch party, as the crowd is starting to thin out. Ms. Robinkoff made an announcement that the Republican candidates are not conceding until all the votes are in.
“We have fought a fair fight, we run on a record, and we will succeed,” she said.
Mr. Hubbard stepped outside for air before Ms. Robinkoff made her announcement.
Right now, Mr. Halpin is leading the town supervisor race by just six votes. Mr. Kern and Mr. Rothwell are slightly ahead in the town board contest as well.
Halpin thanks crowd
11:09 p.m.: With districts 12 and 22 only partially complete, and the race too close to call, the Democrats wind down their watch party with thank-yous and a group picture.
“They’re partially reported but not fully reported so we’re just waiting for those results to come in,” said Ms. Jens-Smith.
Jerry Halpin addressed the gathering as they prepared to leave.
“Thank you for being here and being supportive. We’re just going to keep the faith,” Mr. Halpin said.
Razor-thin margin
10:30 p.m.: A few people point to the television that shows News 12 Long Island showing Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Halpin tied in the polls. As of 11 p.m., the two were separated by just six votes, according to a voting tracker.
On the verge
10:19 p.m.: As results come in showing Jerry Halpin ahead of Tim Hubbard in the supervisor race, Mr. Halpin is tempering his excitement.
“I’m very thankful for everyone that got out and voted today, and I absolutely one hundred percent believe in the process. I think we just have to wait on that, be patient,” said Mr. Halpin. “I’m definitely an optimistic person, and I believe in our town, I think this speaks volumes that people are definitely stepping up and wanting to have their voices heard across the board, both sides.”
Looking grim
10:06 p.m.: Ken Rothwell and Tim Hubbard are watching the TV screen intently as the results show a possible upset. A few people have offered Mr. Rothwell some supportive shoulder taps and hugs as more ballots trickle in.
Shocker brewing
10:00 p.m.: With Riverhead Democratic candidates slightly in the lead, Riverhead GOP committee chair Tammy Robinkoff assured the anxious crowd at Stonewall’s that the current numbers reflect early voting and absentee ballot results and will change as the night goes on. She said results from polling places today won’t come in until around 10:08 p.m.
“Our numbers are looking very positive,” Ms. Robinkoff said. “I have faith — these people are the best of the best, and they will serve you.”
Early results
9:46 p.m.: Results for Riverhead races are starting to come in at the Republican watch party.
Patriot Day
9:00 p.m.: Catherine Stark is passing out American flags to guests as she waits for results of her contest against challenger Greg Doroski.
Rack ’em up
8:50 p.m.: As the close of polls approached, a crowd gathered at All-American in anticipation of the early voting totals, which usually come in first.
Hubbard & Co.
8:45 p.m.: The Grill Room is starting to fill up at Stonewall’s Restaurant in Riverhead, with over 40 people gathering to join the Riverhead GOP incumbents as election results roll in. Councilmen Kenneth Rothwell and Bob Kern, as well as Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard, have arrived. They are joined by Legislator Catherine Stark and many Riverhead Town employees.
Pastor’s in the house
8:15 p.m.: Democratic Supervisor candidate Jerry Halpin and his wife, Kristen, are among the first to arrive as guests filter in to the All-Star Bowling Alley’s American Grill on Route 58.
Laura Jens-Smith, the chair of the Riverhead Dems and former town supervisor, and Adele Wallack, vice chair of Riverhead Dems executive committee, prepare the white board to record the results as they come in.
Let the races begin
Polls close tonight at 9 p.m., but Riverhead News-Review will have continued live coverage of the 2025 election before and after the results roll in.
More than 50,000 voters cast early or mail-in ballots between Oct. 25 and Nov. 2 out of the 1,129,835 registered voters in Suffolk County, according to the New York State Board of Elections. There are 24,217 registered voters in Riverhead Town.
Overall, Democrats voters led the number of ballots cast early with roughly 21,000 turning out. Republicans followed with nearly 17,500, and independents totaled about 10,600, according to officials.
Riverhead voters will elect a town supervisor, two Bown Board members, a county legislator, a highway superintendent, and a town assessor.
The battle for town supervisor pits local pastor Jerry Halpin against GOP incumbent Tim Hubbard. Mr. Halpin is an independent candidate running on the Democratic line. He is lead minister at North Shore Christian Church in Riverhead and has worked in nonprofit leadership as a pastor for more than 30 years.
Mr. Hubbard served eight years on the Town Board as a councilman and was deputy town supervisor in 2018. He has served as Riverhead Town supervisor since he was first elected in 2023. Downtown revitalization is one of Mr. Hubbard’s top priorities, as well as continuing to improve public safety.
Four candidates are vying for two open seats on the Town Board. Incumbent councilmen Kenneth Rothwell and Bob Kern are both running for second four-year terms. Both were elected in 2021. The other members of the board, who are not up for election, are also both Republicans.
Two Democrats, Kevin Shea and Mark Woolley, are vying to break the Republican stranglehold. Mr. Shea, of Baiting Hollow, is a retired New York City firefighter and 9/11 first responder, and a staunch environmental steward. Mr. Woolley, a Riverhead native, is a seasoned government liaison who has worked with six different members of Congress.
Laverne Tennenberg and Mike Zaleski are both running unopposed in Riverhead for town assessor and highway department superintendent, respectively.
The County Legislator 1st District race between Democratic Southold Town Councilman Greg Doroski and Republican incumbent Catherine Stark could be affected by the results of the Proposition 2 question on East End voters’ ballots. If the proposition passes, the elected legislator would serve a three-year term through 2028. Currently, county legislators serve two-year terms.
There are 18 Suffolk County Legislature seats up for election this year, with 12 Republicans and six Democrats sitting on the legislature.
Stay tuned at riverheadnewsreview.com for live coverage of the 2025 election.
