ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.—Orange County Democrat Laurie Tautel was elected as chair of the county Legislature on Jan. 6 in an 11–10 vote, becoming the first Democrat since 2009 to hold the position.
Tautel won against the Republican nominee, Barry Cheney, who was chair of the Legislature in 2025. Republicans have held the chair position and majority for most of Orange County’s history, but Democrats have gained in recent years. The late Democratic politician Roxanne Donnery occupied the chair in 2009.
