Rich Schaffer
Rich Schaffer
Rich Schaffer is a lifelong Suffolk County native who has dedicated his career to public service and Democratic leadership. Raised on Long Island and deeply rooted in the communities he serves, Rich understands the challenges facing working families across Suffolk. From affordability and infrastructure to environmental protection and public safety, his leadership is driven by a simple principle: politics should deliver real results for the people who live here.
Rich currently serves as Chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee, where he leads one of New York State’s most politically competitive party organizations. In this role, he sets the party’s strategic direction, recruits and supports candidates, strengthens local party infrastructure, and oversees coordinated countywide field and voter engagement operations. Under his leadership, Suffolk Democrats have modernized campaign operations, expanded grassroots organizing, and built a more disciplined, data-driven, and results-focused political organization.
Over the course of his career, Rich has been elected to office multiple times by the voters of Suffolk County. He served as a Suffolk County Legislator before being elected Babylon Town Supervisor, winning competitive races that required building broad coalitions, running effective campaigns, and delivering for constituents. These victories, earned at the ballot box, gave him firsthand experience in voter outreach, message discipline, organization-building, and leadership under pressure. That real-world electoral and governing experience is what uniquely qualifies Rich to lead a major political party: he understands what it takes to win, how to unify diverse constituencies, and how to turn values into results.
As Chair, Rich has focused on rebuilding the Democratic Party from the ground up: strengthening town and district committees, mentoring the next generation of candidates, and forging strong alliances with labor, environmental, education, public safety, and community organizations. He has emphasized disciplined messaging, data-driven targeting, and year-round organizing to ensure Democrats compete in every corner of Suffolk County.
Rich has also worked to elevate Suffolk County’s voice within the New York State Democratic Party, advocating for priorities that matter most to Long Islanders: affordability, infrastructure investment, environmental protection, strong public schools, public safety, and the defense of voting rights, and democratic institutions.
Rich Schaffer’s leadership is defined by accountability, preparation, and results. As Chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee, he continues to build a party that is organized, inclusive, and relentlessly focused on delivering for working families across Suffolk County.
