New York's 1st congressional district

New York's 1st congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern Long Island. It includes the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County, including the northern portion of Brookhaven, as well as the entirety of the towns of Huntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, and Shelter Island. The district encompasses extremely wealthy enclaves such as the Hamptons, middle class suburban towns such as Selden, Centereach, and Lake Grove, working-class towns such as Riverhead and rural farming communities such as Mattituck and Jamesport on the North Fork. The district currently is represented by Republican Nick LaLota.

New York's 1st congressional district
Map
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative
Distribution
  • 94.94% urban
  • 5.06% rural
Population (2023)775,252[1] [2]
Median household
income
$132,619[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+3[4]

The district has been a swing district since the 1990s and a Republican-leaning seat since the 2010s. President George W. Bush defeated challenger John Kerry by less than one percentage point in 2004, while in 2008 and 2012, Barack Obama won the district by less than five points. In 2012, New York underwent redistricting, and the 1st district was slightly modified. In the 2014 election, Republican Lee Zeldin defeated Democratic incumbent Tim Bishop, who had represented the district since 2003. Donald Trump won the district by 12 percentage points over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. At the same time, Zeldin won a second term, defeating Democratic challenger Anna-Thone Holst by a margin of 15.6%, the largest margin of victory for a Republican since 1998. In 2018, Zeldin won re-election to a third term, narrowly defeating Democratic challenger Perry Gershon by 4.1%. In 2020, the district shifted back in the Democratic direction, with Trump carrying the district by only four points in the 2020 United States presidential election.

In 2022, Republican Nick LaLota defeated Democrat Bridget Fleming in the newly-redrawn district by an approximately ten-point margin. As a result, it was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

Recent election results in nationwide races

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Year Office Results
1992 President GHW Bush 40–38%
1996 President B. Clinton 51–36%
2000 President Gore 52–44%
2004 President GW Bush 49–49%[a]
2008 President Obama 52–48%
2012 President Obama 50–49%
2016 President Trump 54–42%
2020 President Trump 51–47%

Communities within the district

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Components: past and present

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1823–1945:

All of Suffolk, Nassau
Parts of Queens

1945–1963:

All of Suffolk
Parts of Nassau

1963–Present:

Parts of Suffolk

List of members representing the district

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1789–1813: one seat

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District counties
District established March 4, 1789
 
William Floyd
(Brookhaven)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1791
1st Elected in 1789.
Lost re-election.
1789–1793
Kings
Queens
Richmond
Suffolk
Vacant March 4, 1791 –
May 1791
2nd Representative-elect James Townsend died May 24, 1790, before his term began.
 
Thomas Tredwell
(Smithtown)
Anti-Administration May 1791 –
March 3, 1795
2nd
3rd
Elected April 28, 1791 to finish Townsend's term.
Re-elected in 1793.
Moved to the 7th district and lost re-election.
1793–1801
Kings
Queens
Suffolk
Jonathan Nicoll Havens
(Shelter Island)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
October 25, 1799
4th
5th
6th
Elected in 1794.
Re-elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Died.
Vacant October 25, 1799 –
February 27, 1800
6th
 
John Smith
(Mastic Beach)
Democratic-Republican February 27, 1800 –
February 23, 1804
6th
7th
8th
Elected to finish Havens's term and seated February 27, 1800.
Re-elected in 1800.
Re-elected in 1802.
Resigned.
1801–1803
Kings
Queens
Richmond
Suffolk
1803–1809
Queens
Suffolk
Vacant February 23, 1804 –
November 5, 1804
8th
Samuel Riker
(Newtown)
Democratic-Republican November 5, 1804 –
March 3, 1805
Elected to finish Smith's term.
[data missing]
Eliphalet Wickes
(Jamaica)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1807
9th Elected in 1804.
[data missing]
Samuel Riker
(Newtown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1809
10th Elected in 1806.
[data missing]
Ebenezer Sage
(Sag Harbor)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1813
11th
12th
Elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
1809–1813
Kings
Queens
Suffolk

1813–1823: two seats

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From 1809 to 1823, two seats were apportioned, elected at-large on a general ticket.

Years Cong
ress
  Seat A   Seat B Location
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815
13th John Lefferts
(Brooklyn)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1812.
[data missing]
Ebenezer Sage
(Sag Harbor)
Democratic-Republican Re-elected in 1812.
[data missing]
1813–1823
1st and 2nd Ward of New York County, and Kings, Queens, Suffolk and Richmond counties.
March 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1817
14th Henry Crocheron
(Castletown)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1814.
[data missing]
George Townsend
(Oyster Bay)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1814
March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
15th Tredwell Scudder
(Islip)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1816.
Retired.
Re-elected in 1816.
[data missing]
March 4, 1819 –
January 14, 1820
16th  
Silas Wood
(Huntington)
Federalist Elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1821.
Became the sole representative from the district in 1823.
Vacant Credentials had been issued for Ebenezer Sage (Dem.-Rep.), but Sage did not take or claim the seat, see 1818 United States House of Representatives elections in New York
January 14, 1820 –
March 3, 1821
James Guyon Jr.
(Richmond)
Democratic-Republican Successfully contested the election of Ebenezer Sage.
[data missing]
March 4, 1821 –
December 12, 1821
17th Vacant Credentials had been issued for Peter Sharpe (Dem.-Rep.), but Sharpe did not take or claim the seat, see 1821 United States House of Representatives elections in New York
December 12, 1821 –
March 3, 1823
 
Cadwallader D. Colden
(New York)
Federalist Successfully contested the election of Peter Sharpe.
[data missing]

1823–present: one seat

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location
 
Silas Wood
(Huntington)
Federalist March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1829
18th
19th
20th
Re-elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Lost re-election.
1823–1833
Queens and Suffolk counties.
Anti-Jacksonian
James Lent
(Newtown)
Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –
February 22, 1833
21st
22nd
Elected in 1828.
Re-elected in 1830.
Died.
Vacant February 22, 1833 –
March 3, 1833
22nd
Abel Huntington
(East Hampton)
Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
23rd
24th
Elected in 1832.
Re-elected in 1834.
Lost re-election.
1833–1843
[data missing]
Thomas B. Jackson
(Newtown)
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
25th
26th
Elected in 1836.
Re-elected in 1838.
Retired.
Charles A. Floyd
(Commack)
Democratic March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
27th Elected in 1840.
[data missing]
 
Selah B. Strong
(Setauket)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1842.
Retired.
1843–1853
[data missing]
 
John W. Lawrence
(Flushing)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1844.
Retired.
Frederick W. Lord
(Greenport)
Democratic March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
30th Elected in 1846.
[data missing]
 
John Alsop King
(Jamaica)
Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st Elected in 1848.
[data missing]
 
John G. Floyd
(Mastic )
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1850.
[data missing]
 
James Maurice
(Maspeth)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1852.
Retired.
1853–1863
[data missing]
William Valk
(Flushing)
Know Nothing March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
34th Elected in 1854.
Lost re-election.
John A. Searing
(Hempstead Branch)
Democratic March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
35th Elected in 1856.
Retired.
Luther C. Carter
(Flushing)
Republican March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1858.
Lost re-election.
 
Edward H. Smith
(Smithtown)
Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1860.
Retired.
 
Henry G. Stebbins
(New Brighton)
Democratic March 4, 1863 –
October 24, 1864
38th Elected in 1862.
Resigned.
1863–1873
[data missing]
Vacant October 24, 1864 –
December 5, 1864
 
Dwight Townsend
(Clifton)
Democratic December 5, 1864 –
March 3, 1865
Elected to finish Stebbins's term.
[data missing]
 
Stephen Taber
(Roslyn)
Democratic March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1869
39th
40th
Elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
[data missing]
 
Henry A. Reeves
(Greenport)
Democratic March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
[data missing]
 
Dwight Townsend
(Stapleton)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
[data missing]
 
Henry J. Scudder
(New York)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired.
1873–1885
[data missing]
 
Henry B. Metcalfe
(Westfield)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
[data missing]
 
James W. Covert
(Flushing)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881
45th
46th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
[data missing]
 
Perry Belmont
(Babylon)
Democratic March 4, 1881 –
December 1, 1888
47th
48th
49th
50th
Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Resigned to become U.S. Minister to Spain.
1885–1893
Queens County, Richmond County, and Suffolk County[5]
Vacant December 1, 1888 –
March 3, 1889
50th
 
James W. Covert
(Long Island City)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1895
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
[data missing]
1893–1903
Queens County and Suffolk County[6]
 
Richard C. McCormick
(Jamaica)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Retired.
 
Joseph M. Belford
(Riverhead)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
55th Elected in 1896.
Retired.
 
Townsend Scudder
(Oyster Bay)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Retired.
 
Frederic Storm
(Queens)
Republican March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903
57th Elected in 1900.
Lost re-election.
 
Townsend Scudder
(Glen Head)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1905
58th Elected in 1902.
Retired.
1903–1913
Queens County (partial), Suffolk County, and Nassau County[7]
 
William W. Cocks
(Westbury)
Republican March 4, 1905 –
March 3, 1911
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.
 
Martin W. Littleton
(Port Washington)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Retired.
 
Lathrop Brown
(St. James)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
1913–1933
[data missing]
Vacant March 4, 1915 –
January 4, 1916
64th The 1914 election, which was decided by only 10 votes, was tied up in the courts until December 1915.[8]
 
Frederick C. Hicks
(Port Washington)
Republican January 4, 1916 –
March 3, 1923
64th
65th
66th
67th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired.
 
Robert L. Bacon
(Old Westbury)
Republican March 4, 1923 –
September 12, 1938
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Died.
1933–1943
[data missing]
Vacant September 12, 1938 –
January 3, 1939
75th
 
Leonard W. Hall
(Oyster Bay)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1945
76th
77th
78th
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Redistricted to the 2nd congressional district.
1943–1953
[data missing]
 
Edgar A. Sharp
(Patchogue)
Republican January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Retired.
 
W. Kingsland Macy
(Islip)
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1951
80th
81st
Elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Lost re-election.
 
Ernest Greenwood
(Bay Shore)
Democratic January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1953
82nd Elected in 1950.
Lost re-election.
 
Stuyvesant Wainwright
(Wainscott)
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1961
83rd
84th
85th
86th
Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Lost re-election.
1953–1963
[data missing]
 
Otis G. Pike
(Riverhead)
Democratic January 3, 1961 –
January 3, 1979
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
Elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]
1973–1983
[data missing]
 
William Carney
(Hauppauge)
Conservative January 3, 1979 –
October 7, 1985
96th
97th
98th
99th
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Changed parties.
Retired.
Republican October 7, 1985 –
January 3, 1987
1983–1993
[data missing]
 
George J. Hochbrueckner
(Coram)
Democratic January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1995
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Lost re-election.
1993–2003
[data missing]
 
Michael Forbes
(Quogue)
Republican January 3, 1995 –
July 17, 1999
104th
105th
106th
Elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Lost renomination.
Democratic July 17, 1999 –
January 3, 2001
 
Felix Grucci
(Brookhaven)
Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2003
107th Elected in 2000.
Lost re-election.
 
Tim Bishop
(Southampton)
Democratic January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2015
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Lost re-election.
2003–2013
 
2013–2023
 
 
Lee Zeldin
(Shirley)
Republican January 3, 2015 –
January 3, 2023
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Retired to run for Governor of New York.
 
Nick LaLota
(Amityville)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022. 2023–2025
 

Recent election results

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New York State is one of only eight states where candidates can run for office under the banner of more than one party, and New York is the only state where such cross-endorsement (often called electoral fusion), regularly occurs. The passage of the Wilson Pakula Act in the state legislature in 1947 established this electoral process in New York. Candidates for office routinely run with the endorsement of a major political party as well as one or two other minor parties. Some parties merely exist as a vessel for an individual candidate, while others are formally organized and are regularly found on the ballot. In determining an election winner, the votes for a candidate are totaled across all the party lines on a ballot on which a candidate is running. The results below present in table form the total votes received for each candidate across all party lines and also identify the candidate's major party affiliation.

U.S. House of Representatives election, 1996: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael P. Forbes (Incumbent) 116,620 54.7
Democratic Nora L. Bredes 96,496 45.3
Majority 20,124 9.4
Turnout 213,116 100

22,390 Blank/Scattered/Void votes not included in the above totals. Michael P. Forbes vote by party line: Republican Party (90,001), Conservative Party (11,962), Independence Party (6,599) and Right-To-Life Party (8,058). Nora L. Bredes vote by party line: Democratic Party (93,816), Save Medicare (2,680).[9]

U.S. House of Representatives election, 1998: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael P. Forbes (Incumbent) 99,460 64.1   9.4
Democratic William G. Holst 55,630 35.9   9.4
Majority 43,830 28.3   18.9
Turnout 155,090 100   27.2

20,242 Blank/Scattered/Voided votes not included in above totals. Michael P. Forbes vote by party line: Republican Party (75,643), Conservative Party (13,032), Independence Party (3,158) and Right to Life Party (7,627). William G. Hoist vote by party line: Democratic Party (54,463), STO Party (1,167).[10]

U.S. House of Representatives election, 2000: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Felix Grucci 133,020 55.5   8.6
Democratic Regina Seltzer 97,299 40.6   4.7
None Michael P. Forbes (Incumbent) 6,318 2.6   2.6
Green William G. Holst 2,967 1.2   1.2
Majority 35,721 14.9   13.4
Turnout 239,604 100   54.5
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2002: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop 84,276 50.2   9.6
Republican Felix Grucci (Incumbent) 81,524 48.6   6.9
Green Lorna Salzman 1,991 1.2   0.0
Majority 2,752 1.6   13.3
Turnout 167,791 100   30.0
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2004: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 156,354 56.2   6.0
Republican William M. Manger, Jr. 121,855 43.8   4.8
Majority 34,499 12.4   10.8
Turnout 278,209 100   65.8
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2006: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 104,360 62.2   6.0
Republican Italo Zanzi 63,328 37.8   6.0
Majority 41,032 24.5   12.1
Turnout 167,688 100   39.7
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2008: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 162,083 58.4   3.8
Republican Lee M. Zeldin 115,545 41.6   3.8
Majority 46,538 16.8   7.7
Turnout 277,628 100   65.6
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2010: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 98,316 50.2   8.2
Republican Randy Altschuler 97,723 49.8   8.2
Majority 593 0.4   16.4
Turnout 196,039 100   29.4
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2012: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 132,525 52.2   2.0
Republican Randy Altschuler 121,478 47.8   2.0
Majority 11,047 4.3   3.9
Turnout 254,003 100   22.8
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2014: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lee Zeldin 94,035 53.2   5.4
Democratic Timothy H. Bishop (Incumbent) 78,722 44.6   7.6
Majority 15,313 8.6   4.3
Turnout 176,719 100   30.4
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2016: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lee Zeldin (Incumbent) 188,499 58.2   2.0
Democratic Anna Throne-Holst 135,278 41.8   5.0
Majority 53,221 15.6   7.0
Turnout 341,554 100   93.3
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2018: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lee Zeldin (Incumbent) 139,027 51.5   3.7
Democratic Perry Gershon 127,991 47.4   7.8
Majority 12,036 4.1   11.5
Turnout 270,006 100   73.1
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2020: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lee Zeldin (Incumbent) 205,714 54.86   3.36
Democratic Nancy Goroff 169,294 45.14   2.26
Majority 36,420 9.72   5.62
Turnout 375,116 100   38.9
U.S. House of Representatives election, 2022: New York District 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Nick LaLota 177,040 55.5   0.6
Democratic Bridget Fleming 141,907 44.49   0.6
Majority 35,133 11.0   1.2
Turnout 318,995 100   14.9

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 2004 margin was <1%

References

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  1. ^ "Congressional District 1, NY". Census Reporter. 2023.
  2. ^ "NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BY URBAN AND RURAL POPULATION AND LAND AREA". U.S. Census. 2010.
  3. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  4. ^ "2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI) District List". The Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Parsons, Stanley B.; Dubin, Michael J.; Parsons, Karen Toombs (1990). United States Congressional Districts, 1883-1913. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313264825.
  6. ^ Parsons, Stanley B.; Dubin, Michael J.; Parsons, Karen Toombs (1990). United States Congressional Districts, 1883-1913. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313264825.
  7. ^ Parsons, Stanley B.; Dubin, Michael J.; Parsons, Karen Toombs (1990). United States Congressional Districts, 1883-1913. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313264825.
  8. ^ "Mr. Hicks to Take Seat From First District New York". Washington Evening Star. December 24, 1915.
  9. ^ NYS Board of Elections. "1996 Nov 5 • General Representative in Congress • Congressional District 1". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  10. ^ NYS Board of Elections. "1998 Nov 3 • General: Representative in Congress • Congressional District 1". Retrieved May 8, 2024.