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The Democrat struck a gracious tone after a closer-than-expected loss that followed a bruising campaign, including the release of racy photos from deep in his past
Democrat Chris Gallant conceded the 1st Congressional District race to Rep. Nick LaLota Wednesday afternoon.
His statement thanked voters, his campaign team and the Republican congressman he had spent the past year attacking.
“Last night, the voters of the First District made their decision, and I fully respect it,” Gallant said. “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.”
Gallant, a military veteran, said he called LaLota, who is a fellow veteran, earlier in the day.
“I spoke to Congressman LaLota, and congratulated him as a brother in arms,” Gallant said. “He is a true Long Islander and I wish him well in securing results for the district and the people of New York.”
In the late hours of Election Day, Gallant had declined to give up, despite trailing LaLota by 6,700 votes and 2.25 points had with 560 of 561 election districts reporting. The candidate at the time said in a statement that “every single one” of the votes deserves to be counted.
The margin was the tightest of LaLota’s three races. He beat John Avlon by about 10 points in 2024 and Bridget Fleming by 11 in 2022.
A gracious end to a rough campaign
The friendly tone of Gallant’s statement stood out against a campaign that turned personal.
In September, the New York Post and the Ronkonkoma-based Messenger Papers published years-old photos of Gallant modeling for a San Francisco company that sells fetish and bondage gear. Gallant, 37, is openly gay. According to Newsweek, the images date to early 2010, when Gallant was under 21 and before he began his career in public service.
Gallant’s attorney, Sara Azari, said the photographs are authentic and were taken during a private, consensual photo session with Gallant’s then-partner, with whom he was in a committed longterm relationship.
Gallant called the stories a “coordinated political hit” and refused to leave the race.
“I wasn’t scared flying Black Hawk helicopters in the Middle East,” he said in Sept. 16 report in The Advocate. “And I sure as hell won’t let some pictures from my past scare me.”
Both campaigns traded attacks well before the photos came out. Gallant called LaLota a “career politician,” and LaLota called Gallant “weak and woke.”
On Wednesday, Gallant made a passing reference to that fight.
“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,” 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 placed his run within the wider results of Tuesday night. “This is a new moment,” Gallant said. “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.”
‘Those problems did not go away last night’
Gallant thanked his staff and the voters he met on the trail, including some from across the aisle.
“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,” he said. “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.”
He listed the concerns he heard most: “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.”
Gallant, a New York Army National Guard pilot, former air traffic controller and volunteer firefighter, said he isn’t stepping away from public life.
“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,” he said. “I am still a firefighter, still a pilot, still your neighbor, and I’ll find the next way to be useful to this community.”
He closed with a message to young people thinking about a run for office.
“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,” Gallant said. “Thank you, Long Island. This has been the honor of my life.”
LaLota, a Navy veteran from Amityville, will begin his third term in January.
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Top: Democrat Chris Gallant conceded the 1st Congressional District race to Rep. Nick LaLota on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 (Facebook/Chris Gallant for Congress).
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