U.S. House, New York 2nd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New York's 2nd Congressional District?
Andrew Garbarino has the strongest record in New York's 2nd Congressional District. Andrew Garbarino scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Patrick Halpin at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Andrew Garbarino's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Patrick Halpin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Andrew Garbarino
On the ballot as Andrew R. Garbarino
69 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 69
Democratic
Patrick Halpin
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
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.
Andrew Garbarino
- On the record2026
Voted Yea on the Ukraine Support Act 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 when Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 332, 2025
- On the record2025-05-22
Did not vote on House passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed 215 to 214; the Speaker said he fell asleep, and he said the vote closed before he arrived.
Sources: Clerk of the House, Roll Call 145, May 22, 2025, CBS News New York, May 22, 2025
- On the record2023-11-01
Voted No on the first resolution to expel Rep. George Santos; voted Yea on the second, which passed Dec. 1, 2023.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 564, 2023
- On the record2023-08
The FEC closed a complaint against Garbarino for Congress over 2020 use of state campaign funds (MUR 8062) without action.
- On the record2021-11-05
Voted Yea on the infrastructure bill (INVEST in America Act Senate amendment), which passed 228 to 206, when GOP Leader McCarthy and Whip Scalise voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 369, 2021
- Credit2025-07
Became chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Source: GovTrack, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin
- Credit2018-12-18
The Suffolk County Legislature appointed him chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority for a term through March 24, 2023, after 12 years on its board.
Sources: Suffolk County Legislature, Resolution No. 1169-2018, Suffolk County Water Authority, Dec. 2018
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Andrew Garbarino. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 6, 2026; periodic transaction reports from 2021 were filed within 45 days. No House Ethics Committee finding or FEC fine; an FEC complaint (MUR 8062) was dismissed.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076832, FEC enforcement search, Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. FEC reports on file through June 30, 2026 and a paper House candidate disclosure on the Clerk index (filed Nov. 17, 2025). No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Andrew Garbarino. Voted Yea on the 2021 infrastructure law when GOP Leader McCarthy and Whip Scalise voted Nay, and Yea on the Protect America's Workforce Act (2025) and Ukraine Support Act (2026) against Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 369, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 332, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 207, 2026
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Andrew Garbarino. No public record found.
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Andrew Garbarino. State Assembly member 2013 to 2020 and House member since 2021, serving on the Ethics Committee, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: GovTrack, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. Assembly member, Suffolk County executive 1988 to 1991 and later chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Andrew Garbarino. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electors (Roll Calls 10 and 11). Not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus list. No misuse-of-office finding.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
Patrick Halpin. Held sworn office as an Assembly member and Suffolk County executive; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Andrew Garbarino. In the U.S. House since January 2021, completing a third term; earlier eight years in the New York State Assembly.
Source: GovTrack, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. Suffolk County executive 1988 to 1991 and chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority; Assembly member 1982 to 1987.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin, Wikipedia, Patrick G. Halpin
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Andrew Garbarino. Chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security and is vice chair of the Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee.
Source: GovTrack, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. Published priorities on costs, public safety, housing and drinking water, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Andrew Garbarino. Three channels documented: an updates sign-up, telephone town halls and issue pages on his office site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. Two channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and a campaign priorities page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Andrew Garbarino. Born in Sayville and lists a Bayport address with the FEC; served the area in the State Assembly 2013 to 2020. FEC by-state totals show about 43 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andrew Garbarino, FEC contribution totals by state
Patrick Halpin. Graduated from West Babylon High School and served Suffolk County as county executive and water authority chairman. FEC by-state totals show about 79 percent of itemized individual contributions from New York.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Andrew Garbarino. 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
Patrick Halpin. Headed Suffolk County government as county executive 1988 to 1991 and chaired the Suffolk County Water Authority. Campaign reports on file; no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Patrick Halpin, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Andrew Garbarino. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 1.04 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.46, meets expectations; three sponsored bills enacted, including the Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Andrew Garbarino
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Andrew Garbarino. Missed 112 of 2,915 roll call votes, 3.8 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Andrew Garbarino. Office site offers help with federal agencies and a Patchogue district office. No published casework totals found.
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Andrew Garbarino. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 1.16554 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 23 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Patrick Halpin. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Andrew Garbarino. No public record found.
Patrick Halpin. 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 2nd Congressional District?
Andrew Garbarino has the strongest record in New York's 2nd Congressional District. Andrew Garbarino scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Patrick Halpin at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Andrew Garbarino's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Patrick Halpin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New York's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Andrew Garbarino (Republican, incumbent), Patrick Halpin (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Andrew Garbarino a good candidate for Congress?
Andrew Garbarino scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Patrick Halpin a good candidate for Congress?
Patrick Halpin scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. 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.