This article was updated on Nov. 5.
Democrat Ken Jenkins once again defeated Republican challenger Christine Sculti in a one-sided race to lead Westchester County as county executive.
Jenkins received 66 percent of the vote, according to unofficial tallies from the county Board of Elections. Sculti received 34 percent.
The win gives Jenkins a full four-year term in White Plains and his second victory over his Republican adversary this year.
“From housing and health to veterans’ services and workforce support — we’re making sure everyone in Westchester feels seen, safe, and supported,” Jenkins said after declaring victory. “So tonight, we celebrate more than a victory. We celebrate proof. Proof that stable, competent, forward-looking leadership works. Proof that when government listens, when it cares, when it puts people first, progress follows.
“Proof that what people really want isn’t drama and it isn’t chaos – it’s results.”
Sculti’s campaign manager, TJ McCormack, told The Record shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, that “Christine just called Ken Jenkins to congratulate him on his win and he was gracious in victory.
“Christine thanks all of her supporters and is grateful to everyone who honored her with their vote,” McCormack added.
In February, Jenkins also defeated Sculti by 28 points in a special election to fill the remainder of then-County Executive George Latimer’s term when he resigned after being elected to Congress.
In another previous bid for the county executive seat, Sculti ran against Latimer in 2021, losing by 24 points.
Jenkins, the first Black county executive in Westchester history, served as Latimer’s deputy county executive for seven years. Before that, he spent 10 years as a member of the Westchester Board of Legislators, including a stint as chairman.
“In a time of division, we brought unity. In a time of chaos, we brought stability. In a time of too much empty rhetoric, we brought results,” Jenkins said. “We’ve made Westchester safer, we’ve made it stronger, more sustainable, and more united than ever before.”
Sculti ran an aggressive campaign, attacking Jenkins on issues from immigration to financial management. In contrast, Jenkins rarely mentioned Sculti in public remarks during the campaign unless prompted, instead focusing his message of delivering government services despite challenges posed by federal government policies and budget cuts.
Sculti spent seven years, from 2010 to 2017, in the administration of former County Executive Rob Astorino as his chief advisor, and was the highest-ranking woman in his office. She is the Republican deputy commissioner for the county Board of Elections.
She lives in Mamaroneck, but spent her high school and college years in Rye.
