Politics
New York’s 6 Pivotal House Races: Here’s What to Know
Six House seats, including five held by Republicans, may be the key in determining which party will control the chamber for the next two years.
New York may not be a presidential swing state. But there is perhaps no more important battleground in this year’s race for the House of Representatives than the Empire State.
From the tip of Long Island to Syracuse, the two major parties are fighting over a half-dozen suburban swing districts — five held by Republicans — that helped decide the House majority in 2022 and are expected to again in November. While Democrats hold voter registration advantages in almost all of them, polls show that the Republicans’ focus on the southern border is resonating, along with other issues.
Here are the six races to watch.
New York’s 1st District
Eastern Long Island; the Hamptons
Who’s running?
Representative Nick LaLota, a first-term Republican, handily won this Eastern Long Island seat two years ago and is favored to win re-election. Though his district includes the Hamptons and Democratic-leaning suburbs, it has followed much of Long Island sharply right over concerns about immigration, crime and rising living costs.
Democrats have managed to make the race competitive largely based on the strength of their candidate, John Avlon. A moderate former CNN anchor, Mr. Avlon has raised huge sums of money and shown himself to be an unusually adept messenger.
