Israel Supporter LaLota Wins Reelection After Democratic Rival Concedes

Republican Representative Nick LaLota won reelection in New York’s 1st Congressional District after Democratic challenger Chris Gallant conceded on Wednesday, November 4. Gallant said he had spoken with LaLota earlier that day and congratulated him. LaLota had declared victory Tuesday night. Gallant initially held off conceding while the count continued. In his Wednesday statement, he said: ‘Last night, the voters of the First District made their decision, and I fully respect it.’ He thanked his supporters and said he would continue serving his community as a firefighter, pilot and neighbor. He described rent, property taxes, parents’ health care and young people’s difficulty affording life on Long Island as concerns he heard during the campaign. Unofficial results reported at 1:18 a.m. Wednesday showed LaLota with 152,546 votes, or 51.09%, and Gallant with 145,869, or 48.85%. Those figures covered 560 of 561 election districts, with absentee ballots still to be counted. Gallant had won the Democratic primary against Lukas Ventouras in June before challenging the Republican incumbent. LaLota has publicly backed Israel’s right to defend itself. In a July 24, 2024 statement following Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, he reaffirmed support for Israel’s existence and self-defense. That statement predates this election and provides background to the returning lawmaker’s position on Israel.