Long Island is a microcosm of America. A lot of the political, social and economic trends we see across the country are playing out right here in consequential ways. Cost of living is sky-rocketing. A lot of young people are moving away because they can't afford to live here. Political divisions run deep -- President Trump won Suffolk County by a mere 232 votes in 2020. And the demographics of many communities are shifting. Long Island's Latino population, for instance, grew more than 30 percent between 2010 and 2020. And Brentwood is one of the most diverse towns in the region.

WNYC's Sean Carlson spoke with Lawrence Levy, Executive Dean of Hofstra University's National Center for Suburban Studies about Long Island's role in the upcoming election.