Democrats widen gains in Northeast congressional races

(The Center Square) — Voters in New York, New Hampshire and Maine decided races that helped Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in Tuesday's midterm elections.

In New York, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler was ousted by Democrat Cait Conley in a race that was overshadowed by President Donald Trump, whose record low approval rating dragged down many other GOP candidates across the country Tuesday.

Lawler addressed supporters late Tuesday, telling them he called Conley to concede the race and that it was "fundamentally the right thing to do" even though it hadn't yet been called. 

"When all the votes are counted tomorrow in Westchester, it's going to be clear that we will be short," Lawler said in remarks. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served in this capacity, to have represented the community that I was born and raised in ...that I'm raising my family in. To be given the opportunity to be your voice in Washington, to fight for you every single day." 

Conley, a U.S. Army veteran and former counterintelligence official, is a political newcomer who sought to tie Lawler to Trump's policies in the swing district, which has gone back-and-forth between Republican and Democratic representatives over the years. Democrat Kamala Harris won the district in the 2024 presidential election.  

Democrats also held onto several New York congressional seats in Tuesday's midterms despite GOP efforts to flip the districts by focusing on crime, legal immigration, and other issues that helped Republicans make major gains in the 2022 midterms. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who will be the next Speaker of the House after Democrats took control of the lower chamber Tuesday, easily won reelection in New York's 8th Congressional District after deflecting a challenge from Republican Lewis Mizari. 

In New Hampshire, Democrat Stefany Shaheen defeated Republican Anthony DiLorenzo in the 1st Congressional District race to keep the seat blue for the next two years. 

"This election is about delivering a government that works for the people, not the powerful," Shaheen said in her victory speech Tuesday night. "And that’s the America I am ready to fight for. That’s the promise of a country that we owe to our children, all of our children." 

Shaheen, the daughter of retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, will replace four term Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat who vacated the seat to run for U.S. Senate. He defeated former Sen. John E. Sununu in Tuesday's midterm. 

In Maine, Incumbent Democrat Rep. Chellie Pingree defeated Republican Ronald C. Russell with more than 65% of the vote, as the AP called the race after polls closed Tuesday night. 

But Trump-backed former Gov. Paul LePage was expected to defeat Democrat Matt Dunlap in the race for Maine's 2nd congressional district to win back the seat for Republicans. LePage will fill the seat currently occupied by outgoing Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who decided not to run for reelection.

Trump carried the 2nd District handily in the 2020 elections, peeling off one of the state's four electoral votes. Biden took Maine's 1st congressional district in 2020 and went on to win the presidency. 

LePage's expected win, however, will be bittersweet for the GOP given that he would be the only Republican to represent a New England state in Congress in the upcoming session. 

To be sure, there were bright spots for Republicans and other states in the Northeast in Tuesday's midterms.

Incumbent GOP Rep. Nick Langworthy founded off a challenge from Democrat Aaron Gies in New York's 23rd congressional district, which includes the Buffalo suburbs. Rep. Claudia Tenney won her reelection Tuesday against Democrat Alissa J. Ellman in the 24th congressional district.

Trump endorsed newcomer Anthony Constantino, who owns a chain of car dealerships, appeared poised to win New York's 21st congressional district race against Democratic Blake Gendebien to fill the seat previously held by Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican who decided not to seek reelection after a feud with the president. 

The National Republican Congressional Committee added New York's 3rd and 19th congressional districts to its roster of must-win races in November, throwing its support behind Republican challengers Mike LiPetri and Peter Oberacker to flip the Democratic-held seats. But they were both defeated Tuesday by incumbent Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi on Long Island and Josh Riley upstate.