New York was basically the center of the political universe in 2024. If you were looking at a map of the United States trying to figure out which party would control the House of Representatives, your eyes kept landing right on the Empire State. Honestly, it's kinda wild how a state that usually leans so blue became the ultimate battleground for the whole country.
Whether you were following the drama on Long Island or the high-stakes races in the Hudson Valley, the names on the ballot weren't just local figures. They were the keys to the kingdom in D.C. Let's get into the weeds of who is running for congress in New York 2024 and how those messy, expensive, and sometimes shocking races actually shook out.
The Big Flips and the Suburban Scuffles
You've probably heard about the "Red Wave" that hit New York in 2022. Well, 2024 was the year Democrats tried to claw that territory back. One of the most talked-about names was Laura Gillen. She was running in the 4th District on Long Island against the Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito. This was a rematch from two years ago, and man, was it tight. Gillen eventually pulled it off, flipping that seat back to blue in a district that Joe Biden had won handily back in 2020 but that had somehow drifted away from the Dems.
Then there’s the 22nd District up in Central New York. Brandon Williams, the Republican incumbent, was facing off against John Mannion. This wasn't just a local spat; it was a top-tier target for the national Democratic party. Mannion, a state senator, managed to unseat Williams, marking a significant shift in the Syracuse area.
🔗 Read more: Charlie Kirk Shooting Investigation: What Really Happened at UVU
- District 4: Laura Gillen (D) defeated Anthony D’Esposito (R).
- District 19: Josh Riley (D) unseated Marc Molinaro (R) in what was arguably the most expensive House race in the entire country.
- District 22: John Mannion (D) took down Brandon Williams (R).
It wasn't all bad news for the GOP, though. Mike Lawler in the 17th District managed to hold his ground against Mondaire Jones. That race was incredibly nasty. Jones was trying to return to Congress after being pushed out by redistricting shenanigans in previous cycles, but Lawler's moderate brand seemingly resonated enough with Hudson Valley voters to keep him in his seat.
The Long Island Stronghold
Long Island is sort of its own planet when it comes to NY politics. After the whole George Santos disaster—which feels like a fever dream now, doesn't it?—the 3rd District was wide open. Tom Suozzi had already won a special election earlier in the year to replace Santos, but he had to defend it again in November against Republican Mike LiPetri. Suozzi’s "common sense" branding worked, and he kept the seat, proving that a centrist approach still has legs in Nassau County.
Further east in the 1st District, Nick LaLota held off a challenge from John Avlon. You might recognize Avlon; he was a frequent face on CNN before he decided to jump into the political ring. LaLota leaned hard into his support for Donald Trump and painted Avlon as a "Manhattan elitist," a move that clearly worked with the more conservative-leaning voters in Suffolk County.
💡 You might also like: Casualties Vietnam War US: The Raw Numbers and the Stories They Don't Tell You
City Staples and Primary Drama
While the suburbs were a dogfight, New York City was mostly about the incumbents holding onto their empires. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, cruised to victory in Brooklyn. He’s the guy who would be Speaker if the Democrats take the House, so his race in the 8th District was never really in doubt, but his influence was felt across every other race in the state.
The real drama in the city happened during the primaries. Jamaal Bowman, a member of the "Squad," lost his seat in the 16th District to George Latimer. This was the most expensive primary in history, largely because of massive spending by groups like AIPAC. Latimer, the Westchester County Executive, presented himself as the more stable, pro-Israel alternative to Bowman’s firebrand style. It wasn't even that close in the end; Latimer won by double digits.
Who else stayed put?
In the city, it was mostly a "status quo" vibe for the general election. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (14th District) easily beat her Republican challenger Tina Forte. Over in the 11th District, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, Nicole Malliotakis remains the lone Republican voice in the city's delegation after defeating Andrea Morse.
📖 Related: Carlos De Castro Pretelt: The Army Vet Challenging Arlington's Status Quo
What Most People Get Wrong About New York’s 2024 Races
There’s this misconception that New York is a monolith. People think because it's "New York," the Democrats should just win everything. But 2024 proved that the state is actually quite purple in the spots that matter. The "working class" vote in places like Staten Island and parts of Long Island has shifted significantly toward the GOP over the last few years.
Actually, if you look at the presidential numbers, Donald Trump did way better in New York than anyone expected, even in the city. He pulled about 30% of the vote in NYC, which is the best a Republican has done since the 80s. That groundswell helped down-ballot Republicans like Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota survive even when their party was losing seats elsewhere in the state.
Final Results and What’s Next
Now that the dust has settled on who is running for congress in New York 2024, the landscape looks a bit different. The Democrats picked up three seats (Districts 4, 19, and 22), which was a huge boost for their national efforts. However, the Republicans showed they aren't going anywhere in the Hudson Valley and eastern Long Island.
If you’re looking to stay involved or understand how these winners will affect your life, here are a few things you should do:
- Check your new representative: Because of redistricting, your "rep" might not be who you think it is. Go to the House of Representatives website and plug in your zip code.
- Follow the committee assignments: New members like John Mannion and Laura Gillen will be fighting for spots on committees that handle things like infrastructure or veterans' affairs—stuff that actually brings money back to New York.
- Watch the 2026 map: It sounds crazy, but the fundraising for the 2026 midterms basically starts now. High-profile retirees, like Jerry Nadler (who has hinted at it), could trigger even more chaotic primaries in the near future.
New York's role in the 2024 election wasn't just about local pride; it was about the direction of the country. The fact that three seats flipped in one state is a testament to how volatile the political climate has become.