U.S. House, New York 1st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 1st Congressional District?
Nick LaLota has the strongest record in New York's 1st Congressional District. Nick LaLota scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Chris Gallant at 50, as of October 9, 2026. Nick LaLota's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Chris Gallant
On the ballot as Christopher J. Gallant
50 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Nick LaLota
On the ballot as Nicholas J. Lalota
73 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 81
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Chris Gallant
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Nick LaLota
- On the record2026
Voted Yea on the Ukraine Support Act, which passed 226 to 195, when Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 207, 2026
- On the record2025-07-16
Voted Yea on the Protect America's Workforce Act, which passed 231 to 195, when Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 332, 2025
- On the record2025-03-05
After hundreds protested at his Hauppauge office in February 2025 seeking an in-person town hall, he held a telephone town hall; RiverheadLOCAL reported he had held none in person since January 2023.
Sources: News 12, Feb. 17, 2025, RiverheadLOCAL, Mar. 4, 2025
- On the record2025-03-25
PolitiFact rated False his March 2025 statement that he voted for a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Source: PolitiFact, Mar. 25, 2025
- On the record2024
The FEC dismissed a complaint against LaLota for Congress (MUR 8127, 2022 cycle, soft money) in prosecutorial discretion.
Source: FEC enforcement search, LaLota
- On the record2023-11-01
Voted Yea on the first resolution to expel Rep. George Santos, which failed 179 to 213.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 564, 2023
- Credit2024-12
Sponsored the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024, one of three bills he sponsored that became law; rated exceeds expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for the 118th Congress.
Sources: GovTrack, Nicolas LaLota, Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Chris Gallant. House candidate financial disclosure filed May 13, 2026 and FEC reports on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or other official finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075924, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Nick LaLota. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 11, 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC fine; an FEC complaint (MUR 8127) was dismissed in prosecutorial discretion. The Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077693, House Committee on Ethics site search for LaLota, FEC enforcement search, LaLota
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. Voted Yea on the Protect America's Workforce Act (2025) and the Ukraine Support Act (2026) when Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer voted Nay, and Yea on the first Santos expulsion resolution in November 2023.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 332, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 207, 2026, House Clerk Roll Call 564, 2023
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Chris Gallant. Army National Guard member since 2006 and former air traffic controller and union leader, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant
Nick LaLota. Navy officer 1996 to 2007, Suffolk County elections commissioner and legislative chief of staff, and in Congress since 2023, with no censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota, House Committee on Ethics site search for LaLota
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Chris Gallant. Serving in the Army National Guard since 2006 (military service, E10) and a former federal employee; no official finding of misuse of office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant
Nick LaLota. Navy service 1996 to 2007 and sworn House member since Jan. 3, 2023, after the January 2021 electoral count; no misuse-of-office finding. Not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota, GovTrack, Nicolas LaLota
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Chris Gallant. Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot since 2006, former air traffic controller and local union president, and volunteer firefighter. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant
Nick LaLota. In the U.S. House since January 2023, completing a second term; earlier Suffolk County elections commissioner and Navy officer.
Sources: GovTrack, Nicolas LaLota, Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Chris Gallant. Published positions on affordability, Medicare, Social Security and veterans' benefits, in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant (Candidate Connection survey)
Nick LaLota. Chairs the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure and is vice chair of an Appropriations subcommittee; three sponsored bills enacted.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota, GovTrack, Nicolas LaLota
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Chris Gallant. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant
Nick LaLota. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, an e-newsletter and town hall sign-up on his office site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota, Office site, home page
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Chris Gallant. Born in Smithtown, inside the district, and lives in Amity Harbor, which RiverheadLOCAL reports is outside the 1st District. FEC by-state totals show about 67 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Christopher Gallant, RiverheadLOCAL, June 24, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Nick LaLota. Born in Bethpage and lives in Amityville; served Suffolk County as elections commissioner and legislative chief of staff. FEC by-state totals show about 38 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nicholas LaLota, FEC contribution totals by state, RiverheadLOCAL, June 24, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Chris Gallant. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Nick LaLota. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 3.13 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.46, exceeds expectations. Sponsored three enacted bills, including the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Nicolas LaLota
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. Missed 32 of 1,917 roll call votes, 1.7 percent, from January 2023 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. Office site offers help with federal agencies and a Hauppauge district office. No published casework totals found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.42574 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 65 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Chris Gallant. No public record found.
Nick LaLota. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New York's 1st Congressional District?
Nick LaLota has the strongest record in New York's 1st Congressional District. Nick LaLota scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Chris Gallant at 50, as of October 9, 2026. Nick LaLota's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 1st Congressional District in 2026?
Chris Gallant (Democratic), Nick LaLota (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Chris Gallant a good candidate for Congress?
Chris Gallant scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 50 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Nick LaLota a good candidate for Congress?
Nick LaLota scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 81 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.