Background: Ramos, 62, of North Bay Shore, is running on the Democrat, Working Families, Independence, Women's Equality and Reform party lines. He retired as a detective after 20 years with the Suffolk County Police Department and is seeking his ninth term in office. Ramos attended Suffolk County Community College and graduated from the Suffolk County Police Academy. In 2015, he was the first Hispanic elected deputy majority leader of the state Assembly. Ramos is married and has three children.

Issues: Ramos said he will continue to focus on taxes, gang violence and education. "The gang problem doesn't have only one cause, and that means there's no simplistic solution," he said. "We can't arrest our way out of this." He pointed to several anti-gang initiatives he's worked on: license plate readers purchased with a $1 million state grant he helped obtain; $300,000 for gang prevention programs in Brentwood and Central Islip schools; help from state police troopers with supplemental patrols; and $300,000 for victim services through immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York. He also wants to address restoring full Foundation Aid in the state budget, an aid formula that helps make more money available for districts with low property values so there is less disparity among districts' per student spending rate. "Foundation Aid is the equalizer," Ramos said.