Former New York State Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) is poised to make a political comeback after winning a Democratic primary in a newly redrawn state Senate district in which Hispanic residents make up the majority.
Martinez won 65% of the vote over state Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), who won 34%, in the 4th State Senate District, according to unofficial early returns tallied by the Suffolk County Board of Elections. The race was one of two state Senate Democratic primaries Tuesday on Long Island.
“Tonight I am both humbled by this victory and grateful for the support of so many who turned out to make it happen,” Martinez said. “I have spent these past few months going door-to-door reconnecting with those whom I have represented before while getting to know the people, families, and neighborhoods of the new Senate District 4 and I could not be more proud to have earned this nomination.”
Republican former Islip Town Tax Receiver Alexis Weik unseated Martinez, a former Suffolk County legislator and school administrator, in 2020 after Martinez served one term as state senator. Weik is now running for the seat being vacated by outgoing state Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore).
Martinez was one of the so-called Long Island Six, a bloc of Democratic state senators from the region, who were pivotal in helping flip the balance of power in the chamber from Republican to Democratic leadership in 2018. Republicans hope to flip it back on Election Day. Martinez will face Republican Wendy Rodriguez in the general election.
In the other local state Senate Democratic primary, state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) beat challenger Jeremy M. Joseph with 85% of the vote, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.
Despite the loss, Ramos will remain on ballots this fall as he simultaneously sought re-election to the Assembly seat that he has held for two decades.
