Nick LaLota vs John Avlon: Former CNN anchor vies for Long Island rep’s seat in Congress
LONG ISLAND - In this year's election, first-term Republican incumbent Nick LaLota faces Democratic challenger John Avlon in the fight for New York's 1st Congressional District.
JUMP TO: NICK LALOTA l JOHN AVLON l POLLS l ABOUT THE DISTRICT
The race is shaping up to be one of several key battlegrounds that could determine which party controls the House after the upcoming election. Both candidates have taken clear stances on major issues such as climate change and gun control, where their views diverge sharply.
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However, they agree on the need to lift the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and to bolster border security.
Who is Nick LaLota?
Nick LaLota is a first-term Republican seeking reelection.
He previously served on the Suffolk County Board of Elections and as Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Legislature.
"Nick learned the values of hard work and service to the community from his own family. It is that commitment to service which drives him to serve as our Member of Congress," a post on his website says.
According to his website, LaLota stands firm in his belief that he’s the right representative for the district. He touts his track record, including securing $150 million in federal funding for the district. He also claims Avlon doesn’t understand the concerns of Long Island residents.
"He’s not from here, he doesn't get us, he lies about everything from abortion to the border and everything else he simply fails to understand our county because he's a Manhattan guy," LaLota said.
LaLota has served in the Navy. He's a husband and father of three who currently resides in Amityville.
Stance on abortion
LaLota says he would not vote for a federal abortion ban.
"My stance on abortion is much like that of former President Clinton: I do not oppose it in the first trimester or in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk," he said. "However, I share the concerns of the majority of Americans regarding abortions in the second and third trimesters."
Stance on border
LaLota says the border situation has worsened under the Biden administration, as he calls the security of America’s southwest border "a matter of paramount importance."
"Now is the time for real solutions. We must enforce existing laws, hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable, and prioritize border security. It's imperative to compel action from an administration that has thus far neglected our nation's best interests."
Stance on affordability and taxes
LaLota says Biden, as well as Congress, must "incentivize the safe extraction of America's 43.8 billion barrels of proven oil reserves."
"Inflation is exacerbated by our $600 billion trade imbalance and supply chain disruptions caused by an over-reliance on overseas products. Congress must promote trade deals and regulations that support American manufacturing and ensure workers aren’t incentivized to stay home."
To see the rest of LaLota's stances, click HERE.
Who is John Avlon?
Democrat John Avlon, an author and former senior political analyst at CNN, left his job earlier this year to run.
"We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend democracy and win back the House from his extreme MAGA minions. That’s why I'm running for Congress in New York's 1st district," a post on his website says.
A political commentator turned candidate, Avlon has made it clear that his focus is on unseating LaLota. Avlon has criticized LaLota's conservative positions – particularly on reproductive rights – citing the Republican’s support for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
"This is a guy who cheered for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, said it was a step in the right direction, and supports repealing New York's abortion laws," Avlon said.
Avlon also worked at City Hall as speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani, as well as an editor at The Daily Beast. He also helped create the centrist political group No Labels and authored books on political polarization.
He is married with two kids and currently resides in Sag Harbor.
Stance on abortion
Avlon says the decision to have an abortion should be "between a woman, her doctor, and her God – not the government."
"The fact is that young women today are growing up with fewer rights than their mothers did. Trump’s Supreme Court appointees took away the constitutional right to reproductive freedom after 50 years of Roe v Wade – and they lied to the American people about their determination to do it."
Stance on border
Avlon calls legal immigration "our nation's greatest renewable resource" but says "illegal immigration reduces faith that our system works fairly and effectively."
"That's why I strongly support the bipartisan border security bill which would have funded an additional 1,500 Customs and Border Protection personnel, raised the standards to make a legitimate asylum claim, and shutdown border crossings if border offices become overwhelmed.
Stance on affordability and taxes
Avlon says he'll fight to increase the Child Tax Credit "to help working families and move more kids out of poverty."
"Donald Trump and Washington Republicans raised our taxes – and they did it out of spite, as part of a political stunt so they could fund billions more in special tax breaks for big corporations and the super-rich."
To see the rest of Avlon's stances, click HERE.
Who do polls have leading the race?
A newly released Siena College poll shows LaLota with a three percentage point lead over Avlon among likely voters.
About the district
Stretching from Montauk through Brookhaven and into parts of Huntington, Long Island's District 1 is politically diverse.
Democrats have made the suburban NYC district a priority this year in their bid to reclaim a majority in the House of Representatives. It’s one of several districts in the reliably Democratic states of New York and California that are seen as crucial to their chances.
President Joe Biden won the district in 2020 by a very small margin, but Democratic state lawmakers changed its borders slightly earlier this year to make it slightly more Republican, potentially giving other Democrats on the island a better chance at winning their races.