New York State Senate
In 2016,Brooks chose to run for the 8th Senate District seat held by Michael Venditto. Despite being a registered Republican,Brooks chose to accept the Democratic line. Brooks was unopposed in the primary. In October after the arrest of Venditto's father,Supervisor John Venditto,on corruption charges,along with Ed Mangano,Brooks finally decided to campaign for the seat. The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and Brooks viewed Venditto as a free target despite having nothing to do with the scandal. [3]
On election night,Venditto was thought to have won by more than 2,000 votes,but when additional ballots were counted,Brooks pulled into the lead by less than 100 votes. Ballots were subsequently recounted. [4] In the end,Brooks won by only 314 votes out of over 150,000 cast to take the seat. [5]
In the 2018 election,Brooks defeated Republican challenger Jeff Pravato by more than 10,000 votes. [6] Effective January 2019,Brooks has been named Chair of the Veterans,Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. [7]
His district includes portions of Amityville,Freeport,Lindenhurst and Massapequa Park as well as the unincorporated villages of Baldwin,Baldwin Harbor,Bellmore,Copiague,East Farmingdale,East Massapequa,Massapequa,Merrick,North Amityville,North Bellmore,North Lindenhurst,North Merrick,Roosevelt,Seaford,South Farmingdale,Wantagh,West Babylon,Wheatley Heights and Wyandanch on Long Island. Brooks,despite being a member of the Democratic caucus,was a registered Republican until after the 2017 local elections. [8]
In 2022,Brooks voted with all Senate Democrats against getting rid of school mask mandates. [9]
