Candidate Profile: Nick LaLota For NY's 1st Congressional District

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 and GOP incumbent Nick LaLota and Chris Gallant, a Democrat, are waging a fierce race to win the New York State 1st Congressional District seat.

After redistricting, New York's 1st Congressional District includes both the North and South Forks, Riverhead, the northern part of Brookhaven Town, all of Smithtown and all of Huntington.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns.

Congressman Nick LaLota | New York's 1st Congressional District

How old will you be as of Election Day?

48

Does your campaign have a website?

nicklalota.com

What city or town do you live in?

Amityville, New York.

What office are you seeking?

Representative in Congress

If you are running in a district, specify the district.

New York's 1st Congressional District (NY-01).

Party affiliation

Republican.

Education

I graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 and earned an MBA and a law degree from Hofstra University.

What is your occupation?

United States Congressman.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I'm married to my high school sweetheart, Kaylie, and we're raising our three daughters here on Long Island. Like so many parents, we want our children to have the same opportunities we had growing up here.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes. Before Congress, I served as an Amityville Village trustee and budget officer, Suffolk County's Republican Elections Commissioner, Chief of Staff to a State Senator, and Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Legislature.

First, why are you seeking this office?

Because Long Island deserves a Congressman who delivers results, not just speeches.

I've helped quadruple the SALT deduction, secured hundreds of millions in federal investments for Long Island, protected funding for local hospitals, and fought for safer neighborhoods and cleaner drinking water.

I'm also willing to challenge my own party when Long Island's interests are at stake.

As a Navy veteran, lifelong Long Islander, and father of three, I see public service as a responsibility, not a stepping stone.

There's more work to do, and I want to keep delivering for the people I represent.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing constituents is:

Affordability, especially the cost of staying on Long Island.

Too many young families wonder whether they can afford to raise their children here, while seniors worry whether they can afford to retire in the communities they've called home for decades.

That's why I made quadrupling the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 a top priority, even when it meant challenging my own party.

We also need help from Albany with lower energy costs, more attainable housing, and responsible government spending.

Long Islanders shouldn't have to leave the place they love because they can't afford to stay.

What needs to be done to address water quality issues on LI?

Long Island's drinking water comes from beneath our feet, and our economy and quality of life depend on the waterways surrounding us. Protecting both is non-negotiable.

I've secured funding to connect PFAS-affected homes in Calverton to clean public water, pushed the Navy to address contamination from its former facilities, and helped advance major federal water infrastructure legislation.

As co-chair of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus, I've also fought for record federal investments in restoring the Sound.

We need continued investment in clean drinking water, modern sewers, stormwater management, and holding polluters accountable.

What do you think can be done to help improve our infrastructure, highways, etc.?

Long Islanders shouldn't spend hours sitting in traffic or worry about flooded roads every time there's heavy rain.

I've secured federal funding for road resurfacing in Brookhaven and Huntington, drainage improvements in Miller Place and Sound Beach, and critical water infrastructure throughout Suffolk County.

My approach is straightforward: identify projects local officials say are most important, secure federal resources, and work across party lines to get them done.

We also need Albany to return a fairer share of Long Islanders' tax dollars.

Better infrastructure means safer roads, stronger communities, good-paying jobs, and less pressure on local property taxes.

How would you plan to help local business owners who are struggling because of high rents, inflation, and labor shortages?

Small businesses need government to make their jobs easier, not harder.

I helped make the 20 percent small-business tax deduction permanent, supported tax relief for family farms, and advocated for reforms to seasonal-worker programs that are particularly important to East End agriculture and hospitality.

I've also pushed for lower energy costs, less unnecessary regulation, and infrastructure improvements that help businesses grow.

When federal immigration policy changes threatened to disrupt local employers, I brought their concerns directly to the administration.

That's why I'm proud to have earned the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's endorsement.

How are federal issues impacting local government?

When Washington gets something wrong, local taxpayers often end up paying the price.

That's why I've secured more than $40 million in federal funding for Suffolk County's towns, villages, and county government to improve roads, drinking water, public safety, and other essential services.

I've worked with Republican and Democratic local officials alike because potholes, flooding, and contaminated drinking water don't have party affiliations.

These federal investments help municipalities address pressing needs without placing the entire burden on property taxpayers.

My responsibility is to make sure Long Island gets a fair return on the federal taxes our residents already pay.

What is your stance on how ICE enforcement has impacted local communities?

I support strong border security, lawful immigration enforcement, and cooperation between federal and local law enforcement.

I also believe enforcement should be professional, respect due process, and prioritize public safety.

Sanctuary policies that prevent local police from communicating with federal authorities can make dangerous situations even more dangerous for officers, residents, and those being arrested.

That's why I've opposed efforts to impose those policies on Suffolk County communities.

We should be able to protect our neighborhoods, uphold the law, and treat people with dignity. Those goals aren't mutually exclusive.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The biggest difference is that I have a record voters can examine, not just promises they have to take on faith.

I've delivered tax relief, secured federal funding, worked across party lines, and stood up to my own party when necessary.

I'm also willing to defend that record publicly. I've participated in more than 20 in-person town halls and accepted both NewsdayTV and News 12 debate invitations. My opponent initially accepted, then declined.

We have different views about taxes, public safety, and the direction of our country.

Voters deserve to hear those differences directly from both candidates.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I want Long Island to remain a place where working families can thrive, seniors can retire with dignity, and our children can build their futures.

That means protecting Social Security and Medicare, supporting our veterans and first responders, strengthening public safety, lowering taxes, and defending our environment.

It also means ensuring our military remains strong, our borders are secure, and Washington spends taxpayer money responsibly.

I believe we can be fiscally conservative, environmentally responsible, and socially respectful while working with people across the political spectrum.

That's the commonsense approach I've brought to Congress.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I spent 11 years as a Navy officer, including three deployments, learning that leadership means accepting responsibility and accomplishing the mission.

As an Amityville Village trustee, I helped reduce Village debt by more than 20 percent.

In Congress, I've helped quadruple the SALT deduction, protected approximately $53 million annually for Stony Brook Medicine, and secured substantial federal investments for Suffolk County.

The Lugar Center ranks me more bipartisan than 85 percent of Congress.

My record shows I can manage public resources, work with people who disagree with me, and turn priorities into results.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a commonsense conservative, not a rubber stamp.

I've challenged my own party over SALT relief, worked with Democrats to protect local hospitals and the Long Island Sound, and built productive relationships with local officials regardless of party affiliation.

I take questions from constituents at town halls, appear on networks across the political spectrum, and don't shy away from difficult conversations.

You won't always agree with me, but you'll always know where I stand, why I believe what I believe, and that I'm fighting for Long Island.

Public service should be about solving problems, not scoring political points.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you and why?

My father used to tell my brother and me, "Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see."

It's especially good advice in politics.

Don't blindly accept what someone tells you. Ask questions, consider the source, and make up your own mind.

I've tried to carry that lesson from the Navy into Congress, where it's important to listen to different perspectives, challenge assumptions, and separate facts from political noise.

My father taught me to think independently. That's something I've tried to do throughout my life.