Yonkers Republicans completed their 2025 election season endorsements at a meeting last week. The Feb. 27 meeting was the party’s second try at endorsing a slate for the June 24 primaries and November 4, 2025 general election.
City Council Endorsements
Dean Politopoulos, former public information officer for the Yonkers police dept., won the endorsement for City Council President. Politopoulos defeated educator and former City Council candidate Ron Schutté, who announced that he will petition to win a slot on the June 24 primary ballot. Petitioning is underway now and runs through April 3.
The GOP endorsed 6th City Council District incumbent Anthony Merante. They also endorsed newcomer Tony Solieri to run against incumbent Democratic Majority Leader John Rubbo in the 4th District. The party made no endorsement for the 2nd Council District.
Westchester County Legislator Endorsements
In other Republican Party nominating activity, incumbent Westchester County Legislator James Nolan 15th District got the nod to run for a third term and political novice Michael Pineda was endorsed for the 14th Legislative District, challenging Democrat David Tubiolo.
Technical Difficulties led to Do-over
Yonkers Republicans faced a few unexpected bumps in the nominating process. Their Feb 19 nominating convention was adjourned unexpectedly due to procedural hiccups, requiring the second meeting Feb. 27.Â
Local media buzzed about the party’s ongoing woes. In this predominantly Democratic city (recent registration data showed 116,717 registered voters, 54% Democratic and 17% Republican with voters without a party registration (Unaffiliated) at 22%), the Republicans struggle to remain a viable force, and the party suffers from a widespread impression in the political community that many of its candidates run with the tacit approval of Mayor Mike Spano, himself a former Republican.
