Chris Eachus

Last updated
Chris Eachus
(03-19-25) NYS Assemblymember Chris Eachus.jpg
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 99th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Signature Christopher W. Eachus Signature.png

Christopher W. Eachus (born October 8, 1955) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 99th district, which covers parts of Orange and Rockland Counties. Eachus is a member of the Democratic Party.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in San Mateo California, Eachus spent his early years in Peru until his family settled on Long Island. As a boy he was a member of the Boy Scouts and ended up becoming an Eagle Scout his Junior year of high school. He graduated with a master's degree from SUNY New Paltz. He made a career as a high school teacher for 40 years. [1]

Political career

Eachus served 12 years (3 terms) as a member of the Orange County Legislature, representing the 15th district from 2006-2018. [2] He ran for New York State Senate twice against long-time incumbent William J. Larkin Jr., losing in 2012 and 2016. [3]

New York State Assembly

Eachus declared his candidacy for New York State Assembly in early 2022. [4] With incumbent Assemblyman Colin Schmitt running for Congress, the 99th Assembly district seat became open. Fellow Democratic candidate Zak Constantine withdrew from the race following Eachus's entry. [5] Eachus defeated Republican Kathryn Luciani, a Town Councilwoman from Woodbury, by 8 votes after a recount. [6]

Eachus was the only Democrat to flip a previously Republican Assembly seat in 2022, and represents the second most pro-Trump district of any Assembly Democrat (behind only Simcha Eichenstein), with Donald Trump winning the newly-drawn 99th Assembly district 55% to 45% over Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. [7] Republican Lee Zeldin also carried the district by nearly nine points over Democrat Kathy Hochul in the 2022 New York gubernatorial election. [8] Chris Eachus was the second most successful freshman Assemblymember in the 2023 session, having passed seven bills (Assemblymember Dana Levenberg passed nine).

In 2024, Eachus easily won re-election by more than 13% over Republican challenger Tom Lapolla, even as Donald Trump carried the district again, this time by 20%. [9]

He serves on the Aging, Higher Education, Mental Health, Transportation, and Veterans' Affairs committees in the Assembly. [10]

Electoral history

Orange County Legislature

Orange County's 15th Legislative District 2005 General Election [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christopher Eachus1,50346.37
Working Families Christopher Eachus1314.04%
Total Christopher Eachus 1,634 50.42%
Republican Christina M. Longinott1,27439.31%
Conservative Christina M. Longinott33310.27%
TotalChristine M. Longinott1,60749.58%
Total votes3,241 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
Orange County's 15th Legislative District 2009 General Election [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus1,02144.35
Independence Christopher W. Eachus1657.17%
Total Christopher W. Eachus (incumbent) 1,186 51.52%
Republican K. James Dittbrenner94941.23%
Conservative K. James Dittbrenner1677.25%
TotalK. James Dittbrenner1,11648.48%
Total votes2,302 100%
Democratic hold
Orange County's 15th Legislative District 2013 General Election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus1,68550.69%
Working Families Christopher W. Eachus1133.40%
Independence Christopher W. Eachus1123.37%
Total Christopher W. Eachus (incumbent) 1,910 57.46%
Republican Veronica A. McMillan1,18035.50%
Conservative Veronica A. McMillan2347.04%
TotalVeronica A. McMillan1,41442.54%
Total votes3,324 100%
Democratic hold

New York State Senate

New York's 39th Senate District 2012 General Election [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William J. Larkin, Jr.45,94243.87%
Conservative William J. Larkin, Jr.6,7226.42%
Independence William J. Larkin, Jr.2,2572.16%
Total William J. Larkin, Jr. (incumbent) 54,921 52.45%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus46,12644.05
Working Families Christopher W. Eachus3,6203.46%
TotalChristopher W. Eachus49,74647.51%
Write-in 500.05%
Total votes104,717 100%
Republican hold
New York's 39th Senate District 2016 General Election [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William J. Larkin, Jr.51,01045.25%
Conservative William J. Larkin, Jr.6,9146.13%
Independence William J. Larkin, Jr.6,6115.86%
Reform William J. Larkin, Jr.4960.44%
Total William J. Larkin, Jr. (incumbent) 65,031 57.69%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus43,91538.96%
Working Families Christopher W. Eachus2,8822.56%
Women's Equality Christopher W. Eachus8440.75%
TotalChristopher W. Eachus47,64142.26%
Write-in 490.04%
Total votes112,721 100%
Republican hold

New York State Assembly

New York's 99th Assembly District 2022 General Election [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus 18,539 50.00%
Republican Kathryn D. Luciani16,61444.81%
Conservative Kathryn D. Luciani1,9175.17%
TotalKathryn D. Luciani18,53149.98%
Write-in 100.03%
Total votes37,080 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
New York's 99th Assembly District 2024 General Election [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christopher W. Eachus27,00153.94%
Working Families Christopher W. Eachus1,3452.69%
Total Christopher W. Eachus (incumbent) 28,346 56.63%
Republican Tom Lapolla19,51638.99%
Conservative Tom Lapolla2,1674.33%
TotalTom Lapolla21,68343.32%
Write-in 260.05%
Total votes50,055 100%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Eachus leads Assembly race by 21 with all ballots tallied but awaiting recount". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Chris Eachus Launches Bid For Assembly Seat". Hudson Valley Press. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Constantine withdraws from state Assembly campaign, hopes to chair Orange County Democratic Committee". WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Eachus squeaks by with Assembly win". Mid-Hudson News. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ "NYS Redistricting 2021-2023". Redistricting & You. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2022 Election Results: Governor by Assembly District". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Eachus easily wins re-election in State Assembly's 99th District". Mid Hudson News. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Committee Membership". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2005 General Election County Legislator 15th Legislative District". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "County Legislature Legislative District 15". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Orange County Legislature District 15". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 8, 2016" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2022 Assembly Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Certified November 5, 2024 General Election Results, approved 12.09.2024". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
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