LaLota wins third term in House; Murray flips East End State Senate seat

Rep. Nick LaLota won a third term representing New York’s 1st Congressional District, while Democrat Chris Murray won an upset victory in a State Senate district held by Republicans for more than a century.

Democrat Chris Murray won election to the 1st Senate District seat held by Republicans since 1914. Murray ousted State Sen. Anthony Palumbo 62,408 to 58,344 votes, or 51.66%, to 48.30%, with 213 of 214 election districts reporting, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections unofficial data.

The outstanding district remaining unreported is Southold Town’s ED 1, the election district comprising Fishers Island, according to unofficial election reports published online by the Suffolk County Board of Elections. According to New York State Board of Elections data, the district had 335 registered voters as of Feb. 20.

The unofficial results showed LaLota with 152,546 votes, or 51.09%, to Gallant’s 145,869, or 48.85%, a margin of 6,677 votes. The BOE listed 560 of 561 election districts reporting. Again, Southold Town’s ED 1 in Fishers Island is the remaining unreported district.

LaLota declared victory Tuesday night, thanked voters, volunteers, donors and his family in a post on X.

“Last night, the voters of the First District made their decision, and I fully respect it,” Gallant said in his concession statement.

LaLota expressed disappointment with Republican losses nationally and concern about Democrats’ coming congressional majorities. He said he would work with anyone willing to deliver results for Long Island.

“Republicans must also listen, learn, and earn back voters’ confidence,” he wrote.

The congressman’s unofficial margin of about 2.2 percentage points was substantially narrower than LaLota’s previous victories, which were both won with 10 percentage points and at least a 35,000-vote margin each time.

In 2024, he defeated Democrat John Avlon 226,285 to 183,540, or 55.2% to 44.8%, a margin of 42,745.

In 2022, when he first won the seat, LaLota defeated Democrat Bridget Fleming 177,040 to 141,907, or 55.5% to 44.5%, a margin of 35,133 votes. District boundaries changed between those elections.

Palumbo congratulated Murray early Wednesday but stopped short of formally conceding, according to The Suffolk Times.

Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chairperson Rich Schaffer congratulated Murray. “Chris believed he could win this seat, he put in the work, and last night he did it,” Schaffer said in a social media post Wednesday. “He has spent his career fighting for clean water and the environment on the East End, and the voters rewarded him for it,” Schaffer said.

Murray’s victory marks a significant local upset. Besides flipping a State Senate seat occupied by Republicans for more than a century, Murray unseated an incumbent whose legislative career began in 2013 in the state Assembly.

Palumbo was first elected in the 2nd Assembly District in a special election in November 2013, succeeding Dan Losquadro, who left to become Brookhaven Town highway superintendent. Palumbo won his first full term in 2014.

Palumbo was then elected to the Senate in 2020, succeeding Ken LaValle, who retired after serving since 1977. LaValle was the Senate’s longest-serving member when he announced he would not seek reelection.

Murray, an attorney from Strong’s Neck, campaigned on affordability, health care and environmental protection. He previously chaired the Suffolk County Community College Board of Trustees and Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

The BOE results remain unofficial. Completion of election-district reporting does not constitute certification; the final totals depend on the counting and review of all valid ballots, including absentee and military ballots.