New East Hampton Democratic Chair Koegler Sees Record Early Turnout

The East Hampton Town Democratic Committee is entering the midterm election cycle with a new leader and a focus on unity after a contentious primary season.

Michael Koegler was elected chairman at the committee’s organizational meeting on Oct. 19. He succeeded Anna Skrenta, who held the position for four years. Koegler served on the committee for five years before taking the top post. He previously served on the Southampton Town Democratic Committee.

Koegler stated that early voting totals indicate strong voter engagement. He described the turnout as the highest recorded in a midterm election after only three days of voting. Early voting began on Saturday. By Tuesday morning, more than 2,000 town residents had cast ballots. Of that group, 72 percent were registered Democrats, 10 percent were registered Republicans, and 15 percent were unaffiliated voters.

"People are energized," Koegler said. He attributed the participation to a desire to counter the policies of the second Trump administration. He cited the appointment of Pete Hegseth as an example of extreme ideology. Koegler said Hegseth attends the church of Pastor Doug Wilson, a Christian nationalist who believes women should not vote.

The committee is restructuring its Get Out the Vote operation to improve efficiency. Koegler highlighted the use of a MiniVAN app that assigns specific territories to canvassers. The application includes voter information and allows staff to characterize voter enthusiasm. This data helps the committee target its outreach efforts. Koegler said the goal is for all 38 committee members to work together as a single unit.

The committee experienced a major shakeup this spring when more than a quarter of its members were ousted in a primary. Koegler emphasized that every member was chosen by constituents in their election district. He pointed to Vicki Littman, a new member from Mayor Jerry Larsen’s slate, who offered to drive voters to polls. "I think Vicki is great," Koegler said. "We may not always agree, but that’s okay. Good ideas can come from anywhere."

Koegler proposed the formation of a policy group to track issues affecting the town. The group would monitor developments such as the senior center, the airport, battery storage facilities, and affordable housing. He said this would give committee members a better working understanding of local challenges. The main function of the committee remains recruiting, screening, endorsing, and campaigning for candidates.

The committee will begin screening candidates for two town board seats in the first quarter of 2027. Councilman David Lys and Councilman Tom Flight are up for re-election. A convention will follow where members nominate and vote on potential candidates. Regarding Flight, who backed Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez’s challenger in the June primary, Koegler said the decision rests with the full committee. "I’m only one vote out of 38," Koegler said.

Other officers elected at the Oct. 19 meeting include Andy Harris as vice chairman, Deborah Choron as secretary, and Annemarie McCoy as treasurer.