With five weeks remaining until early voting begins this election season, the focus for both the Republican and Democratic parties in the Suffolk County Legislature races is on a handful of seats that could flip.

All 18 seats in the Republican-controlled legislature are up for election. For the GOP, November’s election is about expanding its power. For the Democrats, it’s an opportunity to break up the GOP supermajority, according to interviews with party leaders and candidates.

Suffolk Republicans gained the majority in the legislature in 2021 , shifting the balance of power for the first time in 16 years as a "red wave" swept across the Island. The GOP picked up another seat in 2023 to gain the veto-proof supermajority.

"Residents are responding to the Republicans' platform of a s

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