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

Umito November 6, 2024

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

Early Wednesday morning, many U.S. congressional races, particularly on Long Island where four seats were at stake, were still too close to call.

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

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

Democrats hoped to flip two of those districts: Suffolk County’s 1st District and Nassau County’s 4th District.

1st District Race

Republicans held on to at least one of those districts, with ABC News projecting that 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 evening.

“Thank you so much to each and every one of you who has been on this journey for years and years. I’m only here because of everything you’ve done, you’ve knocked on doors, you’ve done the “I’m so grateful to every single one of 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 Long Island local election rematch.

“We have already knocked on 90,000 doors and we will continue to knock until November 5,” Gillen said.

She may also have seen a boost in an explosive New York Times report accusing D’Esposito of putting his fiancee’s daughter and mistress on the same payroll, costing taxpayers nearly $30,000 .

“There’s certainly no scandal. There’s no story. It’s a political success and no ethics were violated,” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito said.

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

Chantee Lans reports from Garden City.

2nd District Race

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

“I think what happened in Albany and New York under Democratic control, the only Democratic control in the last two years, has pushed people, not just on Long Island but also in the Valley Hudson and upstate New York and even the city, to start voting Republican because they want change,” Garbarino said.

His challenger is 29-year-old entrepreneur and Democrat Rob Lubin.

“It’s been red for a long time. What do you think of this challenge of a potentially difficult battle?” asks Eyewitness News reporter Chantee Lans.

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

3rd District Race

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

Tom Suozzi holds this seat after winning a special election following the expulsion of George Santos.

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

“My number one issue is we need to secure the border and I’m building a bipartisan network to secure the border, working with Democrats and Republicans to build a coalition of business, badges and the Bible to work together to find a way forward,” says Suozzi.

“During the movement to abolish ICE, I was the one who stood with ICE to stop illegal aliens from committing heinous crimes like predation and murder.” It’s important to have this type of advocacy to keep our communities safe,” LiPetri said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.