NYS State Senate, 5th District Results: Rhoads Vs. Piddoubny [Live Updates]

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island residents took to the polls to vote on candidates in the 2026 elections.

Polls are now closed on Long Island, and residents voted for either incumbent Steve Rhoads, running on the Republican line, or Andrew Piddoubny, running on the Democratic line in the race to represent New York State Senate District 5.

Election Results:

As of 10:04 p.m., incumbent Rhoads was in the lead with 37,476 votes (54.84 percent), while Piddoubny garnered 30,843 votes (45.14 percent), according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.

A total of 84 of 257 election districts have reported. The results remain unofficial.

This story will be updated throughout the night. Stay tuned with Patch for election results.

About The Candidates:

District 5 includes parts of Nassau County, such as Bellmore, Bethpage, East Meadow, Hicksville, Levittown, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick, Old Bethpage, Plainedge, Plainview, Seaford, South Farmingdale, Wantagh, and Westbury.

Bellmore resident Steve Rhoads told Patch the most pressing issue facing constituents is affordability.

"I am seeking re-election to make Long Island more affordable, keep our communities safe, and make government more accountable," Rhoads said. "Families should not have to leave because they cannot afford to stay. I will continue fighting for tax relief, strong schools, support for first responders, and local control over development. My job is to represent our neighbors, solve problems, and deliver results."

Rhoads has served in the Senate for three years and served as a Nassau County Legislator for more than five years prior.

"In the Nassau County Legislature, I helped deliver more than $100 million in tax and fee reductions, strengthened oversight of county contracting, and supported an independent Inspector General," he said. "I also helped expand emergency-alert technology in schools and houses of worship. In the Senate, I have helped secure funding for local schools and community projects and advanced legislation supporting first responders and crime victims. I have co-sponsored major legislation to protect children from AI chatbots, social media algorithms and vape products; expanded access to critical healthcare services; fought to provide resources and sensible legislation to give police the tools they need to keep us safe and advanced the largest personal income tax cut in the history of our State to put more money back in your pocket and out of Albany’s hands. My record reflects practical work to protect residents and their tax dollars."

Wantagh resident Andrew Piddoubny told Patch he also wants to address affordability.

"I want to see an expansion of Universal Childcare that ensures that Long Island gets its fair share of State funding to expand hours on par with other districts and that delivers a program that actually helps working families without them having to supplement the program with before and after care," Piddoubny said.

He added that he wants "to make sure that New Yorkers do not overpay for their utilities and insurance costs, where companies can make three times the profit here that they do in other states."

Piddoubny is also the immediate past president of the Ukrainian American Bar Association and spent the majority of his career as a Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justices.

"I am currently raising a family in the district and understand the struggles that people feel trying to make ends meet each month," he told Patch. "I am running to create a better quality of life for my friends, family, and neighbors."

Results are unofficial until certified by the Nassau County Board of Elections.

The Nassau County Board of Elections and the NYS Board of Elections have more information.