close
close

Ourladyoftheassumptionparish

Part – Newstatenabenn

Election 2024: ABC News projects Nick LaLota to win New York’s 1st Congressional District over John Avlon
patheur

Election 2024: ABC News projects Nick LaLota to win New York’s 1st Congressional District over John Avlon

LONG ISLAND (WABC) — New York is among the hotly contested regions that voters are watching as the fate of Congress could be decided in the Empire State.

As of early Wednesday morning, many races for the U.S. House of Representatives, especially on Long Island, where four seats were up for grabs, were still too close to call.

Three of those districts are currently controlled by Republicans and helped the party gain control of the House of Representatives.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, as control of Congress could come down to a handful of races on Long Island.

Democrats had hoped to flip two of those districts: the 1st District in Suffolk County and the 4th District in Nassau County.

1st district race

Republicans retained at least one of those districts, and ABC News projected Rep. Nick LaLota would win New York’s 1st Congressional District.

The Republican, who was seeking a second term in his race against former CNN anchor and author John Avlon, thanked his supporters Tuesday night.

“Thank you so much to each of you who have been on this journey for years and years. I’m just here because of everything you’ve done, you’ve kicked down doors, you’ve made the phone calls that you plan to get the billboards behind this campaign winner. I am very grateful for each of you, you trusted me,” he said.

4th District Race

Republican Anthony D’Esposito faces a rematch against 2022 Democratic candidate Laura Gillen.

The race could be the most controversial on Long Island.

Chanteé Lans has the latest as Anthony D’Esposito takes on Laura Gillen in a local election rematch on Long Island.

“We’ve already knocked on 90,000 doors and we’ll keep knocking until Nov. 5,” Gillen said.

He may also have gotten a boost from an explosive New York Times report that accused D’Esposito of putting his fiancee’s daughter and mistress on the same payroll, costing taxpayers nearly $30,000.

“There is certainly no scandal. There is no story. It is a political coup and no ethics have been violated,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito.

D’Esposito helped lead the charge to oust disgraced Long Island congressman George Santos from office.

Chantee Lans reports from Garden City.

2nd District Race

While Democrats hope Avlon and Gillen can flip their districts from red to blue, it will be a much tougher task in District 2, a Republican stronghold, where Rep. Andrew Garbarino is seeking a third term.

“I think what’s happened in Albany and New York City under Democratic control, exclusive Democratic control over the last few years, has caused people, not only on Long Island but also in the Hudson Valley and upstate in New York and even in the city, start voting Republican because they want change,” Garbarino said.

His rival is businessman and Democrat Rob Lubin, 29 years old.

“It’s been in the red for a long time. How do you feel about this challenge of a possible uphill battle?” asks Eyewitness News reporter Chantee Lans.

“I feel good. I feel good and here’s why: Long Island can swing and has in the past,” Lubin said.

3rd District Race

That leaves District 3, the only one on Long Island currently controlled by a Democrat.

Tom Suozzi fills the seat after winning a special election following the ouster of George Santos.

He is running against Republican Mike LiPetri, in a district where the immigration crisis has become a major voting issue.

“My number one issue is that we have to secure the border and I am building a bipartisan network to secure the border by working with Democrats and Republicans to build a coalition of businesses, badges and the Bible to work together to find a path forward.” Suozzi said.

“During the movement to abolish ICE, I was the one who stood with ICE to prevent illegal aliens from committing heinous crimes such as predatory crimes and murders.” It’s important to have that kind of defense to keep our communities safe,” LiPetri said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

More election results from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

———-

* More Long Island news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app to receive breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Do you have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If you attach a video or photo, Terms of use apply.

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.