LaLota survives blue tsunami as Dems take Congress; Palumbo on brink of defeat

A blue wave swept Democrats into control of the U.S. House and Senate — and led to a likely upset in one local Albany race — though Republican Nick LaLota managed to avoid the tide of displeasure with the Trump administration.

Mr. LaLota declared victory in his bid for a third term in the 1st Congressional District at a Republican watch party at Stereo Garden in Patchogue late Tuesday night.

However, Democratic unknown Chris Gallant declined to concede with votes still being counted.

With 560 of 561 election districts reporting, Mr. LaLota led Mr. Gallant by 6,677 votes — 152,546 to 145,869, or 51.1% to 48.9% — according to unofficial Suffolk County Board of Elections results posted Wednesday morning.

“Tonight we finished this race and tonight, we finished victorious,” Mr. LaLota said.

Nationally, Democrats had won at least 54 Senate seats and surpassed the 218-seat threshold for a House majority, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. LaLota said he would continue his attempt to cut middle-class federal taxes and invest in public safety, infrastructure and water quality.

Mr. Gallant urged patience in a statement released shortly after midnight Wednesday.

“At this time, there are still votes to count, and every single one of them deserves to be counted,” he said.

The contest was far closer than Mr. LaLota’s 2024 race against Democrat John Avlon, whom he defeated by 42,745 votes, according to official results.

“We are in a new moment,” Mr. Gallant said in the statement. “Across this country, new leaders have been elected who are done with the ways of the past, and the politics of partisanship and division. Our current challenges demand fresh, energetic, and honest leadership.”

“The closeness of these results show that Long Island is not satisfied with the status quo,” Mr. Gallant added. “To my volunteers, friends, family, and staff: thank you. Be patient, and our work is not over.”

Mr. LaLota pledged to focus on affordability, public safety and federal funding for Suffolk County.

“I’ll continue to serve the North Fork, the East End, the entire Suffolk County and all my constituents by using a common-sense, conservative approach to what I do,” Mr. LaLota told The Suffolk Times. “I want to continue to help secure more federal resources for Suffolk County, but at the same time, I want to help cut taxes, like I’ve done in my first few terms. I’ll continue that in my third term, and I’ll work with anybody, Republican or Democrat, to get that job done.”

Another local Republican didn’t fare as well. Three-term state Sen. Anthony Palumbo was on the brink of defeat against Democrat Chris Murray, who led by 4,064 votes in the 1st Senate District race.

With 213 of 214 election districts reporting, Mr. Murray had 62,408 votes to Mr. Palumbo’s 58,344, or 51.7% to 48.3%, according to unofficial results.

“I’m very excited to get to work and am grateful for the support of the people in the 1st Senate District,” Mr. Murray, who lives in Strong’s Neck, told The Suffolk Times on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Palumbo had congratulated Mr. Murray before leaving Stereo Garden as the clock struck midnight but stopped short of formally conceding, saying results from Fishers Island remained outstanding.

“Congratulations to Chris,” Mr. Palumbo said. “He’s a bit of a progressive and that concerns me.”

Mr. Murray campaigned on affordability, health care and environmental protection.

An attorney, Mr. Murray was elected chairman of the Suffolk County Community College Board of Trustees in 2019. He also chaired the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, was president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce and was a member of the North Hempstead zoning board.

Democratic Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni won a second term in the 1st Assembly District, defeating Republican Stephen Kiely by 10,993 votes in a rematch of their 2024 race.

With 86 of 87 election districts reporting, Mr. Schiavoni had 28,693 votes, or 61.8%, to Mr. Kiely’s 17,700, or 38.1%, according to unofficial results.

Mr. Schiavoni campaigned on water quality, affordability and local control over development after previously serving as a Southampton Town councilman and longtime social studies teacher. He was first elected in 2024 to succeed longtime Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr.

In the neighboring 2nd Assembly District, which covers Riverhead, Republican incumbent Jodi Giglio defeated Democrat Michael Szika and Voter Options candidate Kimberly Wilder to secure her fourth term.

Ms. Giglio won with 31,513 votes compared to Mr. Szika’s 21,672, or 58.5% to 40.2%. Ms. Wilder received 678 votes, or 1.3%, with all 85 election districts reporting.

“Thank you to all of the hardworking committee members,” Ms. Giglio said during her victory speech at Stereo Garden with her fellow Republicans. “You were out there spreading our message. You were letting them know that you were fighting just as hard for them as we fight for them every day in Albany.”

Ms. Giglio has criticized Albany’s spending, saying it has made the area even less affordable.

“You can be sure that your voice will be heard on the floor every single day in Albany,” she added. “I will be fighting up there for you.”

Ms. Giglio, who serves on the Assembly Agriculture Committee, said she has worked to protect local farmers from the effects of PFAS contamination.

She also expressed concern about PFAS contamination at the former Grumman site in Calverton, calling it “very concerning” and pointing to state clean-water funding she supported to help connect residents to public water.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also won reelection. Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman conceded Tuesday night at 10:20 p.m.

“You win some, you lose some. The fact of the matter is we pull together and move forward,” he said.