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Nick LaLota

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Nick LaLota
Official portrait, 2022
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byLee Zeldin
Personal details
BornNicholas Joseph LaLota
(1978-06-23) June 23, 1978 (age 48)
Bay Shore, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseKaylie
Children3
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Hofstra University (MBA, JD)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service
2000–2007
RankLieutenant
UnitSurface Warfare Officer

Nicholas Joseph LaLota (/ləˈloʊtə/ lə-LOH-tə; born June 23, 1978) is an American politician and veteran serving since 2023 as the U.S. representative for New York's 1st congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.

LaLota was first elected to Congress in 2022. He is a member of the moderate Republican Governance Group.[1]

Early life and career

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LaLota was born on June 23, 1978, and is from Bay Shore, New York.[2] He graduated from St. Anthony's High School and, in 2000, from the United States Naval Academy. He served in the U.S. Navy for eight years, serving three overseas deployments.[3] He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University.[4] LaLota served as chief of staff to Suffolk County presiding officer Kevin McCaffrey. He also served on the Suffolk Board of Elections as well as a trustee for the village of Amityville, New York.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2022

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LaLota ran for the United States House of Representatives in the first congressional district of New York to succeed Lee Zeldin, who ran for governor of New York.[6] He won the general election on November 8 by defeating the Democratic nominee Bridget Fleming.[7]

On December 27, 2022, LaLota became one of the first Republicans to call for a full House Ethics Committee investigation into the false claims made by his fellow Long Island Republican, representative-elect George Santos. "New Yorkers deserve the truth and House Republicans deserve an opportunity to govern without this distraction", LaLota said.[8] On March 7, 2024, during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, Santos posted on social media that he planned to run against LaLota in the 2024 Republican primary.[9]

2024

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LaLota sought reelection in 2024. He defeated Democratic nominee John Avlon.[10]

Tenure

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LaLota was sworn in on January 7, 2023.[11] During his tenure he has been described as a moderate Republican.[12]

In 2023, LaLota was one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times.

In September 2024, LaLota was one of six Republicans to sign a bipartisan letter spearheaded by centrist House Representatives in which they pledged to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.[13]

Political positions

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Immigration

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In 2026, LaLota was a cosponsor of the DIGNIDAD Act, which proposes a pathway to legal status for up to 12 million illegal immigrants, paired with stricter border enforcement and mandatory work and restitution requirements.[14][15]

LGBT rights

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In 2026, LaLota publicly expressed opposition to banning same-sex marriage, repeal the Respect for Marriage Act, or otherwise undermine the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court ruling, saying, "If government is going to be in the marriage business, it cannot discriminate based upon any of the protected classes, including sexual orientation."[16]

Surveillance

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In January 2026, LaLota was one of 57 Republicans who voted against blocking funding for federally driven “kill switch” vehicle technology, allowing regulators to move forward with systems that could monitor drivers and intervene in vehicle operation.[17]

Committee assignments

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For the 119th Congress:[18]

Caucus memberships

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Personal life

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LaLota married his high school sweetheart, Kaylie, who is a physical education teacher at Northport High School. They have three daughters. LaLota resides in Amityville, New York.[24]

LaLota is Catholic.[25]

Electoral history

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2026

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2026 United States House of Representatives election in New York, District 1[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nick LaLota
Conservative Nick LaLota
Total Nick LaLota (incumbent)
Democratic Christopher Gallant
Write-in
Total votes

2024

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2024 United States House of Representatives election in New York, District 1[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nick LaLota 200,802 49.0
Conservative Nick LaLota 25,483 6.2
Total Nick LaLota (incumbent) 226,285 55.2
Democratic John P. Avlon 181,647 44.3
Common Sense Suffolk John P. Avlon 1,893 0.5
Total John P. Avlon 183,540 44.8
Write-in 275 0.1
Total votes 410,100 100.0
Republican hold

2022

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2022 United States House of Representatives Republican primary in New York, District 1[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nick LaLota 12,015 47.3
Republican Michelle Bond 7,015 27.6
Republican Anthony M. Figliola 6,391 25.1
Total votes 25,421 100.0
2022 United States House of Representatives election in New York, District 1[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nick LaLota 154,046 48.3
Conservative Nick LaLota 22,994 7.2
Total Nick LaLota 177,040 55.5
Democratic Bridget Fleming 135,170 42.4
Working Families Bridget Fleming 6,737 2.1
Total Bridget Fleming 141,907 44.5
Write-in 48 0.0
Total votes 318,995 100.0
Republican hold

References

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  1. ↑ "Republican Governance Group / Tuesday Group PAC". Republican Governance Group. Republican Governance Group. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ "New York New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  3. ↑ Gannon, Tim (February 24, 2022). "Former Suffolk BOE commissioner, Nick LaLota, announces campaign for Congress; Zeldin picks lieutenant governor". The Suffolk Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ Gormley, Michael (October 20, 2022). "Fleming, LaLota vie to replace Zeldin in 1st Congressional District". Newsday.
  5. ↑ Allen, J.D.; Canavan, Lauren (August 23, 2022). "Here are the key primary election results from New York". WSHU.
  6. ↑ "Long Island Voters Guide: Congressional and New York State Senate Candidates 2022". Long Island Press. October 13, 2022.
  7. ↑ Allen, J.D.; D'lorio, Desiree (November 9, 2022). "LaLota replaces Zeldin in the race to represent New York's 1st District". WSHU.
  8. ↑ Shapero, Julia (December 27, 2022). "Incoming GOP congressman from NY calls for full House ethics investigation into Santos". The Hill. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ Ngo, Emilly (March 7, 2024). "George Santos announces a bid to return to Congress". Politico. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  10. ↑ Fahy, Claire (June 25, 2024). "John Avlon Wins Political Debut in a House Primary in New York". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ "LaLota Sworn in as Congressman for New York's First District". Congressman Nick LaLota. January 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Live updates: Trump, House Republicans, Biden and the next 100 days". The Hill. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ Brooks, Emily (September 13, 2024). "6 House Republicans join bipartisan commitment to uphold election results". The Hill. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Bipartisan Group of Legislators Keep Dream of Immigration Reform Alive with Reintroduced 'DIGNIDAD' Act". American Immigration Council. July 15, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ "H.R.4393 – DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025: Cosponsors". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Fitzpatrick, other Republicans reject campaign to ban same-sex marriage". Spotlight PA. February 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ ""Kill switch" for cars approved by House Republicans: Full list". Newsweek. January 23, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  19. ↑ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  21. ↑ Gottheimer, Josh (February 9, 2023). "RELEASE: Gottheimer, Kim, Garbarino, Eshoo Re-Launch Bipartisan SALT Caucus to Fight for Tax Relief for Middle-Class Families". Josh Gottheimer. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  22. ↑ "LaLota Joins Bipartisan Veteran Caucus". Congressman Nick LaLota. February 10, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  23. ↑ "LaLota and Courtney Named Co-Chairs of Bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus". Congressman Nick LaLota. March 24, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ "About Nick". LaLota for Congress. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ "2026 Election United States House - New York - District 01". apps2.suffolkcountyny.gov. Government of Suffolk County. June 30, 2026. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  27. ↑ "11-05-2024 General Results by County-Judicial District-Congressional District-State Senate District-Assembly District". results.elections.ny.gov. New York State Board of Elections. November 5, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Federal Elections 2022: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). www.fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. February 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Federal Elections 2022: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). www.fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. February 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
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