LaLota defeats Avlon in NY-01, Palumbo beats back challenge by Anker in SD-01, Giglio and Schiavoni winners in Assembly contests

Riverhead Town Justice Sean Walter wins second term on town court - Voters OK sales tax hike for sewer and septic fund and approve NYS equal rights amendment.

2024_1105_Lalota declares victory — Rep. Nick LaLota declares victory at Suffolk GOP's election night headquarters Nov. 5, 2024. RiverheadLOCAL/Alek Lewis

Denise Civiletti

Nov 6, 2024, 12:08 am

Incumbent Republican Nick LaLota defeated Democratic challenger John Avlon in the hotly contested First Congressional District race Tuesday.

LaLota opened up a nearly 12-point lead early as the results were reported. He took the stage at Suffolk Republicans’ election night headquarters at the Stereo Garden in Patchogue shortly before 11 p.m. to declare victory.

“I’m so thankful for every one of you,” LaLota told a cheering crowd. “You trusted me, you placed your trust in me… I’m fired up to go back to Washington and take another oath to fight for you,” he said.

LaLota, 46, of Amityville, won election to his second term in the House of Representatives with 56% of the votes cast in the eastern Suffolk congressional district, besting Avlon by 44,761 votes, according to unofficial returns reported by the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Republican Andrew Garbarino won re-election in NY-02 with 58% to handily Democratic challenger Rob Lubin’s 41%.

A jubilant State Sen. Anthony Palumbo and his wife Tracy with Suffolk County GOP leader Jesse Garcia on election night in 2024. RiverheadLOCAL/Alek Lewis

Republican State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, of Laurel, won a third term in the First Senatorial District, beating back a challenge by former Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker, Democrat of Mount Sinai by a six-point margin.

Assembly Member Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow) was the clear victor in the Second Assembly District, where her challenger Tricia Chiaramonte (D-Manorville) did not run an active campaign. Giglio polled 65% of the vote to Chiaramonte’s 35%.

In Riverhead Town, incumbent Town Justice Sean Walter, of Wading River, sailed past challenger Bill Condon of Aquebogue, 59% to 41% to claim a second term on the town court. Both Walter, a former town supervisor, and Condon, a retired State Supreme Court justice, are registered Conservative Party members. Condon ran on the Democratic line, while Walter ran on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Former President Donald Trump out-polled Vice President Kamala Harris in Suffolk County 55% to 44%, while Harris won New York overall, 55% to 43%.

Democrats retain First Assembly District

In the First Assembly District, Democrat Tommy John Schiavoni of North Haven was victorious in his battle to win the seat long held by Assembly Member Fred Thiele Jr., who is retiring this year. Schiavoni defeated Republican Stephen Kiely of Southold 56% to 44%.

Suffolk voters OK sales tax hike for water quality restoration fund

Suffolk voters gave overwhelming support to ballot proposal two, which authorizes a ⅛-cent county sales tax increase to support the water quality restoration fund, for sewers and advanced septic systems. Voters approved prop two 72% to 28%.

New York’s equal rights amendment approved

New York voters statewide — and voters in Suffolk County —approved ballot proposal one, an amendment to the state constitution. The amendment, dubbed the New York State equal rights amendment, prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy,” and also to protect against “unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”