Rep. Nick LaLota defeats former CNN reporter John Avlon in N.Y.'s 1st Congressional District, CBS News projects
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. -- Incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota has fended off Democratic challenger John Avlon in New York's Congressional District 1 race, CBS News projects.
LaLota declared victory and Avlon conceded late Tuesday night. Click here for more New York election results.
"Beautiful, awesome district, so many patriotic people here," LaLota said at his election party in Patchogue. "We campaigned on the issues that matter -- the border, inflation, where we stand in the world -- but we did it in a common-sense conservative way. I'm more bipartisan than 85% of Congress. I passed more bills than 95% of Congress. I brought home $150 million to Suffolk County. We ran on my record, not just rhetoric."
Avlon had said during the campaign that the incumbent was out of touch with the mainstream and that he's not as moderate as he claims, to which LaLota responded, "Well, I think the voters spoke on that issue. Despite him spending $8.4 million, more than double what I spent, we won this thing by 10 points. I think the jury is out. Suffolk County wants a common-sense conservative who tells the truth on the issues that matter."
The race is considered key because it is one of a handful observers viewed as helping determine control of the House of Representatives, and Republicans have held this seat for the last decade.
"We fought the good fight. Not every good fight wins the first time. The good fight never ends, the good fight is perpetual," said Avlon in his concession speech. "What we're facing in Suffolk County tonight isn't the outcome we wanted. It's a hard night in Suffolk County for us Democrats. It's a hard night for many Democrats in the country. But the fight continues."
The territory the district covers is enormous, from the farmers and fishermen of the East End to middle class suburbia stretching west to Huntington, a mix of working-class towns, rural farm communities, and wealthy enclaves.
Where LaLota stands on the issues
LaLota's election in 2022 helped Republicans take control of the House, with a "red wave" washing over Long Island and the GOP winning all four seats, even though more voters were registered as Democrats on the island.
LaLota, 46, is tight with Donald Trump on the border, the economy and crime, and has said he would seek to raise the $10,000 cap on SALT.
"Affordability, be it at the border and crime crises, or just delivering the bacon back home on Long Island, these are some of the things I am focused on in Congress," LaLota said. "I do not think the federal government should interfere with the state abortion laws."
LaLota, who went to St. Anthony's High School and then the U.S. Naval Academy and Hofstra Law, has been involved in Suffolk politics for many years. His wife is a schoolteacher.
Avlon, who voted in Sag Harbor on Tuesday morning, was born in New York City and is the son of Greek immigrants. The 51-year-old graduated Yale and Columbia, was a political commentator and strategist, and, incidentally, is married to a Republican, Margaret Hoover, the great-granddaughter of Herbert Hoover.
Avlon's opposing messages on abortion, gun control, climate change and health care had voters taking notice during the campaign, but he ran out of steam on Election Day.