The battle for the Senate seat in the 4th District is shaping up to be one of Long Island’s most competitive races.

Lou D'Amaro may be the Democratic challenger, but he's not an unfamiliar face. D'Amaro was a longtime Suffolk County legislator who represented part of the 4th Senate District, which covers parts of Fire Island, Babylon, Deer Park, Bay Shore and Islip. 

D'Amaro says he needs to be elected to help give Democrats the majority in the state Senate and hold the line on taxes for Long Islanders.

“We have to fight for more school aid to come down here to Suffolk County and Long Island. We send up so much more than what we get back,” he says.

On the Republican ticket is incumbent Phil Boyle. He points to his successes in Albany with fighting the opioid epidemic and funding treatment programs in addition to being a supporter of the 2 percent state tax cap.

“We want to make it a permanent 2 percent tax cap and a 2 percent spending cap on New York state, because once the other side takes over, they are going to start spending money like water,” says Boyle.

According to the state Board of Elections, 4th District Democrats have a slight voter registration advantage over Republicans - 69,632 to 63,133.

Political experts say what will really determine the outcome of the race is if the candidates can rally voters to get to the polls this year.

“The thing about registration numbers is they don't mean a thing if they don't represent who is coming out and voting,” says political analyst Mike Dawidziak.