Experience takes center stage in race for Nassau DA

The Nassau DA race pits incumbent Republican District Attorney Anne Donnelly against Democratic career prosecutor Nicole Aloise.

Rich Barrabi

Oct 29, 2025, 10:18 AM

Updated 2 hr ago

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Anne Donnelly has spent more than 35 years inside of the Nassau District Attorney's Office. She's led the office for the last four years.
In an interview with News 12, Donnelly (R-Garden City) pointed to Nassau's low crime rate, a series of arrests in high-profile cold cases and her efforts to combat gang violence as some of her key accomplishments.
"I'm proud of those things, and I think that that resonates with the voters," Donnelly said. "That's why they want to elect me, because they feel that I'm doing the job and keeping them safe."
Donnelly's opponent is also a career prosecutor.
Nicole Aloise (D-Garden City) says Donnelly has lost the support of many colleagues and law enforcement personnel. The challenger points to the nearly 100 prosecutors who left the DA's office under Donnelly's watch, as well as the Nassau Police Benevolent Association's decision not to endorse a candidate in the race this year.
Four years ago, the Nassau PBA endorsed Donnelly.
"It is not ideological, it's not political. It's just about being the public servant and top prosecutor for our county, and she is simply not doing that," Aloise said.
Donnelly pushed back on Aloise's criticism.
"She's completely misguided," Donnelly said. "She doesn't know me that well. I was a violent felony prosecutor for 15 years, in the courtroom every single day."
Aloise insists she's best suited to lead the DA's office in 2026.
"When I'm district attorney, I won't be asking anybody in my office to do something I personally haven't done," Aloise said.