Eastchester: A Republican Haven in Blue Westchester County

In the increasingly Democratic-leaning northern suburbs of New York, the southern Westchester County town of Eastchester stands as a remarkable political anomaly. While the surrounding communities have steadily shifted leftward, Eastchester remains firmly Republican—a red island in an expanding sea of blue. This politically distinctive community, just a few miles from the Bronx, continues to elect GOP officials to every government seat, maintaining its conservative character even as demographic changes and political realignments transform the region around it.

Town Supervisor Anthony Colavita, who has served at Eastchester’s helm for 22 years, attributes this political durability to the town’s commitment to what he calls “traditional values” and its resistance to progressive trends. “We don’t bite on the political social issue of the day. When wokeism was rampant and DEI, and defunding the cops and all that stuff was all going on, we were impervious to that,” Colavita explained in a recent interview. His administration prioritizes supporting law enforcement, keeping taxes manageable, and maintaining fiscal discipline—approaches he contrasts with more progressive policies. The town’s political stability is remarkable: Colavita and his town board running mates sailed to re-election this month without Democratic opposition, and when last challenged in 2021, he won comfortably with 61% of the vote.

What makes Eastchester’s political consistency particularly noteworthy is that it persists despite demographic changes that might suggest a different outcome. Democrats actually outnumber registered Republicans in Eastchester, a shift that occurred about five years ago, mirroring the broader county where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-to-1. Throughout Westchester’s 19 towns, Republicans maintain a registration advantage in just one—Somers, in the county’s northern reaches. Yet Eastchester’s voting patterns remain solidly conservative even with this registration disadvantage. The town, which includes the villages of Tuckahoe and Bronxville (each with their own municipal governments), sits surrounded by Democrat-dominated municipalities like New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, further highlighting its political distinctiveness.

Colavita’s governance philosophy focuses heavily on fiscal conservatism and public safety. Despite the area’s high property taxes—averaging around $20,000 annually per household (though most of this goes to school taxes)—the town government itself keeps increases minimal, with Colavita proudly noting next year’s town increase amounts to “about four bucks per month” per household. “We’re not going to piss money away on some stupid program that some social idiot thought up down in Washington or Albany somewhere,” he stated bluntly. “We don’t waste money.” He emphasizes this approach as “old school” governance that doesn’t burden taxpayers unnecessarily, and suggests this fiscal restraint is part of what keeps voters supporting Republican leadership regardless of their party registration.

Local Democratic leaders, however, challenge Colavita’s characterization of the political landscape. Town Democratic Party Chairman John Filiberti pointed to upcoming changes in the election calendar that will align local elections with state and federal contests, suggesting this might finally alter the town’s political dynamics. Meanwhile, County Democratic Chair Suzanne Berger rejected the suggestion that Democrats don’t share concerns about responsible governance, public safety, and affordability. “Westchester Democrats, like Eastchester residents, value responsible local government, public safety and civility,” she argued, suggesting Colavita presents a “false dichotomy” between conservative and progressive approaches to governance. The coming years may test whether Eastchester’s Republican leadership can maintain its foothold as the county continues trending Democratic—a Republican hasn’t won a countywide race since 2013, and even formerly reliable Republican areas like Harrison have become competitive.

For many Eastchester residents, their town’s conservative orientation is a point of pride and comfort. Several described living in a “bubble” they’re happy to maintain, particularly as they observe political developments in nearby New York City. With socialist Zohran Mamdani elected as New York City’s incoming mayor, some residents predicted another influx of city dwellers seeking refuge in their community, similar to what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our real estate prices are going to go through the roof!” predicted one lifetime resident, while a local mother of three anticipated housing values doubling over five years. The owner of a local pizza shop summed up the political sentiment simply: “All Trump supporters here.” As the broader region continues its leftward shift, Eastchester remains committed to its distinctive political identity—a community that, in Supervisor Colavita’s words, is “moving in opposite directions” from progressive trends, focusing instead on what residents see as proven approaches to governance, safety, and community life.