The Aporia · Long Island Dems re-elect party boss Rich Schaffer after accusations he tried to pay for votes

Long Island Dems re-elect party boss Rich Schaffer after accusations he tried to pay for votes

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Cruz, B. (2026, September 23). Long Island Dems re-elect party boss Rich Schaffer after accusations he tried to pay for votes. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/23/us-news/long-island-dems-re-elect-party-boss-after-accusations-he-tried-to-pay-for-votes/

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Quick Summary

Rich Schaffer, Long Island’s Democratic Party leader for 26 years, was re-elected despite recent accusations that he tried to bribe party members to secure his position. He received over 57% of weighted votes from county district leaders on Tuesday night. The state Attorney General's Office is investigating claims that Schaffer offered money and threatened job actions against committee members who did not support him. Additionally, an audio recording surfaced showing pressure being put on members by one of Schaffer’s allies to vote for him. Schaffer denies the bribery allegations.

Written by AI on 2026-09-24, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Rich Schaffer, the Long Island Democratic Party boss who has held his position for 26 years, was re-elected despite allegations that he attempted to buy votes or threaten party members. On Tuesday night, Schaffer won over 57% of weighted votes from county district leaders. The New York Attorney General’s Office is investigating claims that Schaffer threatened to get some Democrats fired and offered cash payments if they voted against him. Allegedly, Schaffer texted a member asking if he could pay for the member's father to miss work and vote instead. Progressive challenger Kathryn Casey Quigley opposed Schaffer in this election, with some of his usual supporters also turning against him due to these allegations.

Written for “Long Island Party Boss Re-elected” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Brandon Cruz

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All 39 articles by Brandon Cruz →

Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)

A Long Island Democratic Party boss was reelected Tuesday night — just days after bombshell allegations surfaced that he offered to pay committee members for their vote. asserted

he → reelect → vote

Suffolk County Democratic leader Rich Schaffer, whose held onto his position for 26 years, coasted to yet another term with over 57% of weighted votes of county district leaders on Tuesday. asserted

whose → hold → Tuesday

But the state Attorney General’s Office confirmed it was looking into allegations from local Democrats that he threatened to get some party members fired from their committee jobs and even tried to put up cash if they voted to boot him out of his fiefdom. asserted

they → confirm → fiefdom

“Can we pay him to miss work?” Schaffer allegedly texted one member about getting his father to skip his night shift as a security guard and instead come vote for Schaffer, according to messages viewed by The Post. uncertain

father → pay → Post

Schaffer was facing an insurgent challenge from progressive Kathryn Casey Quigley as allegations flew and some allies broke with the longtime chairman. asserted

allies → face → chairman

Islip Town Democratic Chairwoman Leigh-Ann Bard turned on him in an editorial just days before the vote, calling for his resignation over his Mafia-style reelection campaign and alleged backdoor deals with the local GOP. asserted

Bard → turn → GOP

Schaffer was accused of making deals with Republicans to boot blue-blooded Dems off the ticket to allow GOP candidates to coast to victory. asserted

candidates → accuse → victory

“It pains me greatly as someone who has supported, defended, and looked up to Chairman Richard Schaffer and considered him a friend — I have no choice but to call on Richard Schaffer to resign,” she said. asserted

she → pain → Schaffer

Barde’s husband, committee Roc Romain, is a committee member who holds a job at the Suffolk County Board of Elections that lives and dies at the pleasure of the party. asserted

that → hold → party

Audio also emerged of a Schaffer ally pressuring committee members to fall in line with the boss. asserted

ally → emerge → boss

Schaffer has publicly denied the allegations of bribery. asserted

Schaffer → deny → bribery

Long Island Dems re-elect party boss Rich Schaffer after accusations he tried to pay for votes

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Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)