The Ballot Brief
Nassau County, New York

New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District

14 candidates are tracked for New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Richard Ambro, Leonard D. Steinman, Mary E. Porter, Joy M. Watson, Stephen L. Ukeiley, Eric Sachs, William D. Wexler, John Kelly, Kelly A. Reape, Karen M. Wilutis, John Iliou, James A. McDonaugh, Mary Kate Mullen and Anthony R. Portesy. Candidate information follows official Nassau County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Voters choose 8 justices. Supreme Court justices are elected by judicial district; the 10th Judicial District covers Nassau and Suffolk counties, so this race is on every ballot there. Names and party lines follow the State Board of Elections certification for the November 3, 2026 ballot; a name listed on more than one party line is one candidate.

What this office does

Appellate or supreme court justice. Appellate judges review decisions of trial courts for legal error rather than retrying facts. A state supreme court is the final word on state law and the state constitution. Candidates may describe their experience and judicial philosophy but may not promise outcomes in particular cases.

This race. Voters choose 8; the top 8 finishers win seats. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Richard Ambro, Leonard D. Steinman.

New York › Nassau County › New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District

Richard Ambro

Democratic, Republican Incumbent

Biography

Richard Ambro is a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court in Suffolk County and Supervising Judge of the County Court and Supreme Court, per the Suffolk County Court's official roster on the New York Courts website. He is the only Suffolk County Democratic nominee for this seat also cross-endorsed by Suffolk Republicans this year, per Newsday. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Leonard D. Steinman

Democratic, Republican, Conservative Incumbent

Biography

Leonard D. Steinman is a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court in Nassau County, per the Nassau Supreme Court's official roster on the New York Courts website. He presides as Presiding Justice of the Child Victims Act Part for the 9th and 10th Judicial Districts, per the New York Courts website. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Mary E. Porter

Democratic

Biography

Mary E. Porter is a sitting Family Court Judge in Suffolk County, per the New York State Unified Court System's 2025 Annual Report. She was elected to the Suffolk County Family Court bench in 2021, per Suffolk County's official general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Joy M. Watson

Democratic, Republican, Conservative

Biography

Joy M. Watson is a Nassau County Court Judge who also serves as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, per the Nassau County Court's official roster on the New York Courts website. She previously worked in the Nassau County District Attorney's office, per a local newspaper archive. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Stephen L. Ukeiley

Democratic

Biography

Stephen L. Ukeiley is a Suffolk County District Court Judge and Acting County Court Judge, and serves as Coordinating Judge of the Outlying District Courts, per the Suffolk District Civil Court's official roster on the New York Courts website. He is an adjunct professor of law at Touro Law Center and has authored a regular law column in The Suffolk Lawyer, per Touro Law Center's website. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Eric Sachs

Democratic

Biography

Eric Sachs is a Suffolk County District Court Judge and Acting County Court Judge who has served since January 2021 as Presiding Judge of the Suffolk County DWI Treatment Court, per his campaign site. He earned his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 1985 and began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County from 1985 through 1989, per the same source.

William D. Wexler

Democratic

Biography

William D. Wexler is an attorney based in North Babylon, New York, per Suffolk County Supreme Court case filings. He has served as Ocean Beach Village Justice for approximately 27 years, having begun his public service as an assistant district attorney, per the Fire Island News. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

John Kelly

Democratic

Biography

John Kelly, of Deer Park, has served as a Family Court Judge and an acting Supreme Court Judge in Suffolk County, per the Suffolk County Legislature, which honored him as its 2024 Irish American of Distinction. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Kelly A. Reape

Republican, Conservative

Biography

Kelly A. Reape is an attorney of counsel to the Farmingdale, New York firm Guercio and Guercio, which represents school districts, per Newsday and court records. She was named a Suffolk Republican and Conservative nominee for this seat in August 2026, per Newsday. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Karen M. Wilutis

Republican, Conservative

Biography

Karen M. Wilutis is a Suffolk County Court Judge who also serves as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, per the Suffolk County Court's official roster on the New York Courts website. As an Acting Supreme Court Justice she presides over Suffolk County's Felony Sex Offense Court, per Newsday. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

John Iliou

Republican, Conservative

Biography

John Iliou is a Suffolk County Court Judge who also serves as an Acting Supreme Court Justice and Presiding Justice of the Integrated Domestic Violence Part, per the New York Courts website. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

James A. McDonaugh

Republican, Conservative

Biography

James A. McDonaugh is a Suffolk District Criminal Term judge, per the New York Courts website. He was named a Suffolk Republican and Conservative nominee for this seat in August 2026, per Newsday. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Mary Kate Mullen

Republican, Conservative

Biography

Mary Kate Mullen is a Suffolk District Court Judge and Acting County Court Judge who presides in Domestic Violence Part 3, per the New York Courts website. She previously served as an Islip Town councilwoman, per Newsday. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

Anthony R. Portesy

Conservative

Biography

Anthony R. Portesy withdrew as the Democratic candidate for Suffolk County Clerk to accept the Conservative Party's nomination for this seat, per Newsday. He holds a position with Suffolk County's Off-Track Betting Corporation, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District in 2026?

14 candidates are tracked for New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Richard Ambro, Leonard D. Steinman, Mary E. Porter, Joy M. Watson, Stephen L. Ukeiley, Eric Sachs, William D. Wexler, John Kelly, Kelly A. Reape, Karen M. Wilutis, John Iliou, James A. McDonaugh, Mary Kate Mullen and Anthony R. Portesy. Candidate information follows official Nassau County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the New York Supreme Court Justice, 10th Judicial District election in New York?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are on the New York election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Nassau County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race
Candidate roster from official Nassau County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official New York election office, or see the full Nassau County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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Nassau County Legislature, District 2Nassau County Legislature, District 3Nassau County Legislature, District 4See all 47 Nassau County races

Candidate profiles

Richard Ambro, full profileLeonard D. Steinman, full profileMary E. Porter, full profileJoy M. Watson, full profileStephen L. Ukeiley, full profileEric Sachs, full profileWilliam D. Wexler, full profileJohn Kelly, full profileKelly A. Reape, full profileKaren M. Wilutis, full profileJohn Iliou, full profileJames A. McDonaugh, full profileMary Kate Mullen, full profileAnthony R. Portesy, full profileOfficial New York election office