Gallant Concedes Race For 1st Congressional District Seat To LaLota

SUFFOLK COUNTY — Chris Gallant has conceded the race for the 1st Congressional District seat to incumbent Nick LaLota.

It was a nail biter race Tuesday as incumbent LaLota,a Republican, and challengermGallant, a Democrat, faced off in the race.

As of 1:18 a.m.., according to unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections, LaLota had the lead with 152,546 votes, or 51.09 percent, of the votes, with Gallant garnering 145,869 votes, or 48.85 percent, with 560 of 561 districts reporting and absentee votes still to be counted.

Initially, Gallant did not concede the race.

"At this time, there are still votes to count, and every single one of them deserves to be counted. It’s obvious now that this election was not what people thought it would be. The closeness of these results show that Long Island is not satisfied with the status quo," Gallant said in a statement after the election.

But on Wednesday, he issued a statement, conceding the race, and said he had congratulated LaLota.

According to multiple sources, LaLota declared victory Tuesday night.

LaLota did not immediately respond to a request for further comment after the race.

"Last night, the voters of the First District made their decision, and I fully respect it," Gallant said in his statement. "Though we are disappointed in the outcome, this race is a reminder of the values that we can demand from our leaders: honesty, loyalty, and steadfast commitment to serving this country and each other."

He added: "Earlier today, I spoke to Congressman LaLota, and congratulated him as a brother in arms. He is a true Long Islander and I wish him well in securing results for the district and the people of New York."

Gallant reflected: "Over the course of this race, we’ve proved that leaders shouldn't be defined by anything other than the ability to do the job, and do it well. This is a new moment. Last night, dozens of first time officeholders and leaders were elected across this country who are done with the ways of the past and the politics of division. Our current challenges demand fresh, energetic, and honest leadership."

And, he said: "Together, we have proved that what should define a candidate is what they can do for their community and fellow citizens. What should qualify them is their resume. And that there should be no barriers to stepping up on behalf of your community to make a difference through public service."

He also thanked those that worked diligently alongside him.

"To my team, you worked harder than anyone has a right to ask. You believed in this when odds were long, and you showed up even on your most tired days. And to everyone I met along the way: nurses, electricians, veterans, and lifelong Republicans who took the time to hear me out—thank you for letting me into your lives. I listened to your hardships: rent, property taxes, your parents' health care, your kids leaving Long Island because they can't afford to stay. They are the reasons why I ran, and those problems did not go away last night.

"I am very proud of what we accomplished. As an Army pilot and an air traffic controller, you learn that when the outcome isn't what you planned, you don't stop doing the job. You assess, you adjust, and you continue to work to keep people safe. I'm going to continue serving my country. I am still a firefighter, still a pilot, still your neighbor, and I'll find the next way to be useful to this community.

"Our future holds great promise. Our past does not have to be brighter than what lies ahead. New leaders should not be afraid to run for office. Young people should not fear the barriers they say stand in your way. Trust yourselves and follow the call to lead. Fight today and fight tomorrow for a bright, prosperous, and equal future. Thank you, Long Island. This has been the honor of my life," Gallant said.

In June, two candidates waged a Democratic primary race with the hopes of unseating LaLota — and when the votes were tallied, Gallant won the race against Lukas Ventouras.

Gallant chose not to debate LaLota, a decision some questioned, during the campaign.

LaLota spoke to Patch about Gallant’s decision not to debate. Gallant had stated publicly that he’d chosen instead to meet his constituents in person, face to face, across his district.

“I accepted the NewsdayTV and News 12 debate invitations because Long Islanders deserve to hear both candidates answer tough questions. My opponent initially accepted, then declined," LaLota said. "I’m ready to defend my record and discuss our district’s future. He should be willing to do the same. Answering tough questions is part of the job.”

Gallant did not respond to a request for comment regarding the debate during the campaign.

As the campaign progressed, Gallant also saw photos of himself resurface from an ad campaign for a fetish brand in 2010, according to the New York Times. But he appeared undaunted, sending campaign messages that said, "Make politics sexy again."

Election Night began with Gallant ahead, but LaLota advanced and won the race by a narrow margin.