Early voting begins in Democratic primary for congressional nomination in NY-01

Early voting in the Democratic Party primary is underway in New York.

Locally, two candidates are competing for the Democratic party’s nomination in New York’s First Congressional District: Lukas Ventouras and Christopher Gallant. The winner of the primary contest will challenge incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in the November general election.

Gallant, 37, is a National Guardsman, Black Hawk helicopter pilot, former FAA air traffic controller and volunteer firefighter from Amity Harbor. Born in Smithtown, Gallant joined the Army at 17, became an air traffic controller and deployed to Kuwait in 2012, he told RiverheadLOCAL last year. He later became an FAA air traffic controller, most recently guiding flights out of Kennedy Airport.

Gallant joined the Army National Guard in 2019, became a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and deployed again in 2022. He currently serves in an assault helicopter battalion out of MacArthur Airport, where he has helped protect presidential candidates and respond to the Westhampton wildfires, he told RiverheadLOCAL.

Gallant, like LaLota, lives outside the First Congressional District. Gallant lives in Amity Harbor with his fiancé Mike and said last year he would not move into the district if elected. His campaign website emphasizes affordability, health care for seniors, infrastructure and coastal resilience, government accountability and public safety.

Ventouras, 25, is a law student from Northport and the son of Greek immigrants. He graduated from New York University and is a student at St. John’s University School of Law. Ventouras has said he aspires to become an immigration or civil rights lawyer and has worked for Long Island civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington.

Ventouras founded a Students Demand Action chapter while at NYU and has worked for Mediaite, a politics and media news website. He has also served as an intern on Democratic political campaigns and in Rep. Grace Meng’s Queens office. His campaign website says he attended Northport public schools, graduating from Northport High School. He graduated from NYU in 2023 with a major in history and a minor in broadcast journalism.

Ventouras’ campaign site lists issues including worker empowerment, health care, housing, climate change, transportation, public health and food safety, reproductive freedom and protecting seniors and the working class.

Watch the League of Women Voters debate between Gallant and Ventouras.

Also on the Democratic primary ballot this year is the contest for state comptroller, pitting incumbent Thomas DiNapoli and challengers Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle.

The Democratic Party primary election date is June 23. There is no Republican Party primary.

Early voting in the primary election is as follows:

The early voting location in Riverhead Town is Riverhead Town Hall, 4 W. Second Street, Riverhead 11901.

Registered Democrats may vote at any one of the early voting locations in Suffolk, regardless of residency. See the full list of early voting locations. On primary election day and general Election Day registered voters must vote at their designated polling places. Voters can confirm their registration and polling places here.