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.
Chris Eachus | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 99th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Colin Schmitt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 8, 1955 San Mateo, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | New Windsor, New York |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
Early life and education
editBorn 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
editEachus 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
editEachus 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 also the second most successful freshman Assemblymember in the 2023 session, having passed seven bills (Assemblymember Dana Levenberg passed nine).
He serves on the Aging, Higher Education, Local Governments, Mental Health, and Veterans' Affairs committees in the Assembly.[9]
Electoral history
editOrange County Legislature
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christopher Eachus | 1,503 | 46.37 | |
| Working Families | Christopher Eachus | 131 | 4.04% | |
| Total | Christopher Eachus | 1,634 | 50.42% | |
| Republican | Christina M. Longinott | 1,274 | 39.31% | |
| Conservative | Christina M. Longinott | 333 | 10.27% | |
| Total | Christine M. Longinott | 1,607 | 49.58% | |
| Total votes | 3,241 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christopher W. Eachus | 1,021 | 44.35 | |
| Independence | Christopher W. Eachus | 165 | 7.17% | |
| Total | Christopher W. Eachus (incumbent) | 1,186 | 51.52% | |
| Republican | K. James Dittbrenner | 949 | 41.23% | |
| Conservative | K. James Dittbrenner | 167 | 7.25% | |
| Total | K. James Dittbrenner | 1,116 | 48.48% | |
| Total votes | 2,302 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christopher W. Eachus | 1,685 | 50.69% | |
| Working Families | Christopher W. Eachus | 113 | 3.40% | |
| Independence | Christopher W. Eachus | 112 | 3.37% | |
| Total | Christopher W. Eachus (incumbent) | 1,910 | 57.46% | |
| Republican | Veronica A. McMillan | 1,180 | 35.50% | |
| Conservative | Veronica A. McMillan | 234 | 7.04% | |
| Total | Veronica A. McMillan | 1,414 | 42.54% | |
| Total votes | 3,324 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
New York State Senate
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 45,942 | 43.87% | |
| Conservative | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 6,722 | 6.42% | |
| Independence | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 2,257 | 2.16% | |
| Total | William J. Larkin, Jr. (incumbent) | 54,921 | 52.45% | |
| Democratic | Christopher W. Eachus | 46,126 | 44.05 | |
| Working Families | Christopher W. Eachus | 3,620 | 3.46% | |
| Total | Christopher W. Eachus | 49,746 | 47.51% | |
| Write-in | 50 | 0.05% | ||
| Total votes | 104,717 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 51,010 | 45.25% | |
| Conservative | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 6,914 | 6.13% | |
| Independence | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 6,611 | 5.86% | |
| Reform | William J. Larkin, Jr. | 496 | 0.44% | |
| Total | William J. Larkin, Jr. (incumbent) | 65,031 | 57.69% | |
| Democratic | Christopher W. Eachus | 43,915 | 38.96% | |
| Working Families | Christopher W. Eachus | 2,882 | 2.56% | |
| Women's Equality | Christopher W. Eachus | 844 | 0.75% | |
| Total | Christopher W. Eachus | 47,641 | 42.26% | |
| Write-in | 49 | 0.04% | ||
| Total votes | 112,721 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
New York State Assembly
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christopher W. Eachus | 18,539 | 50.00% | |
| Republican | Kathryn D. Luciani | 16,614 | 44.81% | |
| Conservative | Kathryn D. Luciani | 1,917 | 5.17% | |
| Total | Kathryn D. Luciani | 18,531 | 49.98% | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.03% | ||
| Total votes | 37,080 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Eachus leads Assembly race by 21 with all ballots tallied but awaiting recount". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Chris Eachus Launches Bid For Assembly Seat". Hudson Valley Press. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Constantine withdraws from state Assembly campaign, hopes to chair Orange County Democratic Committee". WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Eachus squeaks by with Assembly win". Mid-Hudson News. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "NYS Redistricting 2021-2023". Redistricting & You. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Election Results: Governor by Assembly District". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "Committee Membership". New York State Assembly. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "2005 General Election County Legislator 15th Legislative District". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "County Legislature Legislative District 15". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Orange County Legislature District 15". Orange County Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 8, 2016" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Assembly Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 1, 2023.