GOP looks to hang onto seats after high-profile Nassau arrests

Nassau's Republican Party is hoping the arrests of some of the party's top leaders on corruption charges won't hurt other Republican candidates. Two of Nassau's top Republicans, County Executive Ed

News 12 Staff

Nov 9, 2016, 3:42 AM

Updated 2,892 days ago

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Nassau's Republican Party is hoping the arrests of some of the party's top leaders on corruption charges won't hurt other Republican candidates.
Two of Nassau's top Republicans, County Executive Ed Mangano and Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, were each arrested on corruption charges just days ahead of Election Day.
The headlines and subsequent slew of political ads aren't expected to help other GOP candidates, like Venditto's son, Michael. The younger Venditto is battling Democrat John Brooks in a state Senate contest.
It's one of five seats up for grabs in Nassau. If Republicans lose enough of those seats, Democrats could lock up power in Albany and control the state Senate, the Assembly and the governor's office.
But Republican leaders like state Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan believe voters will be discerning and consider the candidates on their own merits.