Nick LaLota

Nick LaLota
Official portrait, 2022
Nick LaLota
Born	Nicholas Joseph LaLota 23 6, 1978
Birthplace	Bay Shore, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney, veteran
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 1st congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS) Hofstra University (MBA, JD)
Spouse(s)	Kaylie LaLota
Children	3
Website	[[lalota.house.gov lalota.house.gov] Official site]

Nicholas Joseph LaLota (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born June 23, 1978) is an American politician, attorney, and United States Navy veteran serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 1st congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, LaLota succeeded Lee Zeldin, who vacated the seat to run for Governor of New York. Born and raised on Long Island, LaLota's career has spanned military service as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, work in Suffolk County government, and service as a commissioner on the Suffolk County Board of Elections before entering congressional politics. His district encompasses much of eastern Suffolk County, including portions of Long Island's North Shore and South Shore, as well as the eastern forks and Shelter Island. In Congress, LaLota has focused on issues including election integrity, tax policy affecting New York residents, and veterans' affairs. He was first elected in the 2022 midterm elections and has since represented the district as it has become an increasingly competitive battleground seat in national politics.

Early Life

Nicholas Joseph LaLota was born on June 23, 1978, in Bay Shore, New York, a hamlet in the Town of Islip on Long Island's South Shore in Suffolk County. He grew up on Long Island, where he would later build his political career. LaLota's upbringing on Long Island shaped his connection to the community he would eventually represent in Congress.

Details about LaLota's parents and family background during his childhood years are limited in publicly available sources. What is documented is that he pursued a path toward military service from an early age, ultimately securing an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, a decision that would set the course for his early professional life.

LaLota's roots in Suffolk County remained strong throughout his life. After completing his military service and education, he returned to Long Island, where he became involved in local government and Republican Party politics. His deep ties to the area and familiarity with the concerns of Long Island residents — including issues related to taxation, infrastructure, and quality of life — would later become central themes in his political campaigns.

Education

LaLota attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduating in 2000. His acceptance to and graduation from the Naval Academy placed him among a selective group of graduates who go on to serve as commissioned officers in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps.

Following his military service, LaLota pursued further education at Hofstra University in Hempstead, on Long Island. At Hofstra, he completed a dual graduate program, earning both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. The combination of his Naval Academy undergraduate education with graduate degrees in both business and law provided LaLota with a multifaceted professional background that he would draw upon in his subsequent careers in county government and eventually in Congress.

Career

Military Service

Upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2000, LaLota was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy. He served on active duty from 2000 to 2007, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. During his naval career, LaLota served as a Surface Warfare Officer, a designation given to Navy officers who are trained to operate and fight on the surface of the world's oceans aboard ships and other surface vessels.

LaLota's seven years of active-duty military service became a defining element of his personal biography and political identity. His experience as a Navy officer and veteran has informed his positions on national defense, veterans' affairs, and foreign policy during his time in Congress.

Suffolk County Government

After completing his military service and graduate education, LaLota entered public service at the local level in Suffolk County. He worked in Suffolk County government in various capacities, building experience in local governance and administration on Long Island.

LaLota served as a commissioner on the Suffolk County Board of Elections, a bipartisan body responsible for administering elections across the county. In this role, he gained firsthand experience with election administration, voter registration, and the mechanics of conducting elections — experience that would later inform his positions on election integrity legislation in Congress.

His tenure at the Board of Elections and in county government helped establish LaLota as a figure within Suffolk County Republican circles and laid the groundwork for his eventual run for Congress.

2022 Congressional Campaign

In February 2022, LaLota announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 1st congressional district. The seat was being vacated by incumbent Republican Lee Zeldin, who had decided to run for Governor of New York in the 2022 gubernatorial race. LaLota's announcement positioned him as one of several Republican candidates seeking to succeed Zeldin in a district that had been held by the Republican Party.

LaLota participated in the Republican primary election held on August 23, 2022. He secured the Republican nomination, advancing to the general election.

In the November 2022 general election, LaLota faced Democratic candidate Bridget Fleming, a Suffolk County legislator. The race was part of a broader set of competitive congressional contests on Long Island during the 2022 cycle. LaLota ran on a platform that emphasized his military service, his experience in county government, and issues including public safety, economic concerns, and quality of life on Long Island.

LaLota won the general election, securing the seat and becoming the representative-elect for New York's 1st congressional district. His victory was part of a strong Republican performance on Long Island in the 2022 midterms, as the party flipped several seats in the New York City suburbs that contributed to the Republican majority in the 118th United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

118th Congress (2023–2025)

LaLota was sworn in as a member of the 118th United States Congress on January 3, 2023, officially succeeding Lee Zeldin as the representative for New York's 1st congressional district.

Early in his tenure, LaLota attracted national attention for his outspoken criticism of fellow incoming Republican congressman George Santos, who represented New York's 3rd congressional district. After revelations emerged that Santos had fabricated significant portions of his biography, LaLota was among the first Republican members of Congress to call for a full House Ethics Committee investigation into Santos. His early and vocal stance on the Santos matter distinguished him as a member willing to hold members of his own party accountable.

LaLota has been identified as a member of the Main Street Republican caucus, aligning with the more moderate wing of the House Republican Conference. This positioning reflects the political dynamics of his Long Island district, which includes both conservative and moderate voters.

According to research by the Pew Research Center, LaLota identifies as Catholic.

119th Congress (2025–Present)

LaLota won reelection in 2024 and continued serving in the 119th United States Congress. During this term, he has been involved in several legislative matters of significance to his district and the state of New York.

In May 2025, LaLota joined with fellow New York Republican representatives Elise Stefanik, Andrew Garbarino, and Mike Lawler in releasing a joint statement on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction negotiations. The SALT deduction cap, imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, has been a significant issue for residents of high-tax states like New York, and LaLota has been among the New York Republican delegation members advocating for a higher cap or full restoration of the deduction.

In August 2025, LaLota voted in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation aimed at election integrity measures. The vote reflected LaLota's background in election administration from his time as a Suffolk County Board of Elections commissioner.

LaLota's office has also hosted congressional interns from various academic programs. In the spring of 2025, his office participated in the Washington internship program, providing students with experience in congressional operations and policy work.

2026 Campaign Outlook

As LaLota approaches a potential third term, New York's 1st congressional district has been identified as one of the more competitive seats in the country. In 2025, polling conducted by the House Majority PAC, the principal super PAC aligned with House Democrats, indicated that LaLota could face a competitive race in the 2026 midterm elections.

Multiple Democratic candidates have announced their intention to challenge LaLota in 2026. In August 2025, Chris Gallant, a Black Hawk pilot and Democratic newcomer, launched a campaign to unseat the two-term incumbent. Additional Democratic candidates have also entered the race, setting up a contested primary on the Democratic side.

In August 2025, LaLota secured the endorsement of the Suffolk County Republican Committee at their convention, earning the party's nomination alongside fellow Long Island Republican congressman Andrew Garbarino.

Personal Life

LaLota resides on Long Island with his wife, Kaylie, and their three children. The family lives in the district he represents in Congress.

LaLota is a practicing Roman Catholic.

His military service remains a significant part of his identity. LaLota served seven years on active duty in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant before leaving the service in 2007. His status as a veteran has been a recurring element of his public profile and political campaigns.

LaLota holds three degrees: a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy and both an MBA and JD from Hofstra University, reflecting a background that spans military service, business, and law.

Recognition

Since entering Congress, LaLota has received attention for several notable actions and positions. His early call for an ethics investigation into fellow Republican George Santos in late 2022 and early 2023 drew significant media coverage and established him as a figure willing to take public stances against members of his own party when he deemed it necessary.

LaLota has been recognized by the Main Street Republican PAC as one of its supported candidates, reflecting his alignment with the moderate wing of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives.

His district has been classified as a battleground seat by political analysts and organizations on both sides of the aisle, which has brought increased national attention to LaLota's reelection efforts. The competitive nature of New York's 1st congressional district has made LaLota a focal point of both Republican efforts to maintain their House majority and Democratic efforts to flip seats in the New York City suburbs.

Electoral History

LaLota first won election to Congress in November 2022, defeating Democratic candidate Bridget Fleming in the general election for New York's 1st congressional district. He won reelection in 2024, securing a second term in the 119th United States Congress.

LaLota's campaign finances are tracked by the Federal Election Commission under candidate ID H2NY01190.