Voter Guide 2026: Long Island election voting guide 

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LILauraGillen11326_2026-11-03-05-40-29

The raptor morning. Another one of the races that we're watching the 4th Congressional District covering parts of Hempstead, Rockville Center, and Long Beach. Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen is facing a challenge from the Hempstead receiver of taxes, Republican Janine Driscoll. Congresswoman Gillen was not able to join us live on the show this morning. We interviewed her yesterday. For voters out there today, do you think that you have done enough? Do you think you've got your message across to be able to take this, uh, this election day? Uh, look, I'm really proud of the campaign that we've built. We've been talking to voters throughout the district, not just at election time, but throughout my first term in Congress. Um, I, I promised the voters of this district that I would not be focused on partisan politics and fighting. I'd be focused on keeping my head down, working across the aisle where possible to get things done and deliver for this district, and I've done just that. I've brought over $60 million back to the district and. Community project funding and other funding to clean up our water, to improve schools and libraries, to, uh, protect houses of worship, to improve our infrastructure, and, uh, we turned over $4 million back into taxpayers' pockets, and I was made able in the least productive Congress other than the one before, which is under Republican control, um, able to get my very first bill as a freshman member in the minority. Party, I was able to get my very first bill passed in the House of Representatives. I'm an effective member and I'm looking forward to going back and serving the residents of this district. Congresswoman, it seems that Republicans on the national level have targeted your race and the neighboring race, the 3rd, with Congressman Swazzi in a year where they figure to suffer many losses, at least that's the historical trend. What does that say to you about your race and what are the stakes here in the 4th district? Look, this is a this is a purple seat. It's a seat that's always going to attract some attention, you know, I flipped it against the odds last cycle. I'm going to hold it this cycle, but I think, you know, with Bruce Blakeman at the top of the ticket, they thought there could be some down ballot momentum in this race, but I don't think they're going to see that as in fact the case. Lastly, just, just one quick thing that you can tell undecided voters about the difference between you and your candidate that may matter. I've always, whether it was in local government or now in federal government, I've always had a good government agenda. I always have focused on making sure that I'm doing the best thing I can for the residents of this district. In contrast, my opponent said she wants to be in Congress to support the president 100% of the time when we're seeing everything that he promised us lower prices, nope, skyrocketing prices, no more forever wars. A war that was started with no objective, no end in sight, no plan, no goals, that's making gas prices and everything else go up. Um, he's made our country less safe. Um, he's made life more expensive and more difficult, and they people are being crushed. I'm going to Congress again, not to follow a partisan agenda, but to focus on the problems that we need solved in this Congress. That's bringing down the cost of living, making sure we try to get that salted. back, which is one of the first bills that I introduced as well with uh Andrew Garbarino and uh focusing on the things that matter most of them, we need to rein in AI. There's serious problems. This Congress has been the least productive, second least productive Congress. I hope, I hope to go back in the majority where we're actually getting things done for the American people. All right, Congresswoman Laura Gillen, thank you so much for the time. We appreciate it. Thanks, Laura. Thank you.

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LICHRISGALLANT11326_2026-11-03-05-40-33

Morning. See what voters have to say today. Another one of the races that we're watching the first congressional district covering the East End all the way into Melville. Political newcomer Democrat Chris Gallant is challenging Republican Congressman Nick Lalota, and Chris Gallant joins us live now. Chris, good morning. Thanks for joining us. Let's talk about the state of the race right now. Obviously for you to win this thing, you've got to flip voters who voted for Lalota two years ago. What's your message to them this morning? Good morning. Thanks for having me on. And yes, the, the excitement is real, you know, we've been running this campaign now for about 15 months, and the message is that we want change. I mean, everybody's really upset with the fact that we're in the middle of a forever war. We're spending billions of dollars on it. Life is not more affordable here. Our faith in our government has gone to an all-time low. Right now. Congress has its lowest approval rating ever. We need effective leaders that are going to show up in our districts, and they're going to actually communicate with their constituents, and I think this gives us an opportunity to do just that. And I'm excited to hopefully bring that effective change here to our community. Chris, this district has historically elected both Republicans and Democrats. If you get elected and you switch some of those voters, how are you going to bipartisanly work for the issues specifically for Long Islanders? Well, throughout this entire campaign I've been, as I say, build bridges, not walls, and so I've been fostering relationships with both Democrats and Republicans alike, our local elected leaders, all politics is local politics. And so in order to be effective we have to be able to communicate with our local leaders here and figure out what on the federal level we can bring to our communities, how we can best be effective in that in that role, and that's how I plan to do it. I mean, You know, I would, I'm, I'm, I've got a lot of friends that are Republicans. I've got a lot of people who are Republican and that said they're going to be voting for me this year because they see that I have the ability to build those bridges and, you know, when we talk about How we can best be effective. I mean, right now we're seeing Congress just not working with one another. We're seeing them not communicate and so we have to communicate. It's the only way we're gonna be successful. Chris, lastly, what have you learned during this process being new to politics and how do you think it would help you serve in Congress? I think my background in my military career and my background as a union leader, my background as a firefighter, it makes me a very diverse candidate. It makes me very able to again communicate across party lines, and I think throughout this entire process it's given me the ability to really foster great relationships, and I think that's how we're going to be successful this year. Democratic candidate Chris Gallant, thanks so much for joining us on the show this election day. Thanks for having me. Have a good morning.

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LINickLaLota11326_2026-11-03-06-18-49

Staying on this election day. Now another one of the races that we're watching, the first congressional district covering the entire East End all the way into Melville. The incumbent is Republican Nick Lalota. He's facing a challenge from political newcomer Democrat Chris Gallant. Congressman Lalota joins us now. Congressman Lalota, thanks so much for coming into the studio early. One last day, one last morning before people Make their votes. What's one last thing that you want to say to Long Islanders? Well, I think Long Islanders are going to be happy that maybe the text messages will start to stop. Maybe they'll get their TV commercials back, but also they'll have a good opportunity to put our state and our country in a good direction. Of course, at the state level, my friend Bruce Blakeman is running for governor. He's running on a common sense platform. The promises that Kathy Hochle is making to deliver more affordability to New York State just haven't come true. If they came true, New York State wouldn't have the worst tax climate. It wouldn't have more people leaving it than any other state and wouldn't have the 3rd highest utility rates of any state in the nation. And that's the reason why so many Long Islanders are frustrated. Yes, we gave Zelden a lot of our votes 4 years ago. I expect here on Long Island voters will do the same for Blakeman. Now Congressman, early voting in both Nassau and Suffolk County has favored Democrats. That's not altogether surprising. That's typically the trend. But, uh, what are you telling your folks, your supporters about the importance of getting out today? Weather won't be an issue, but perhaps there could be an enthusiasm gap. In a midterm election, I think that Long Islanders are fired up to hear their voices heard in our great republic here. Yes, about a third of the voters, we think, cast their ballots early. I did as well. Over 100,000 ballots were cast in my district already, but we expect 320-330 ballots cast overall in my district. There's still a lot of time left on the clock, about 15 hours. Election day voting ahead of us. Yes, the weather is good, but any day is a great day to participate in our democracy. Just real quickly, I know we touched upon it, but just affordability. So many Long Islanders are wanting someone to make life easier for them, to make things a little back to normal in their house, concentrating on gas and groceries, and that's really it. What can you say to them? Yes, that's been the theme of my campaign, Erin, to pay less to DC but get more in return. And we Long Island Republicans Garburino and me can brag that we brought the average middle class family a $3000 tax cut, cutting tax on tips, overtime, Social Security, the quadrupling of the state and local tax deduction that even Newsday doesn't usually write good stuff about Republicans, said that it's a $3000 tax cut for middle class Long Islanders that's coupled with all the money that I brought home, not just big money for folks like the, the hardworking folks at Brookhaven National Lab. And the VA medical center, but tens of millions of dollars to help local governments, county, town, and village pave their roads, buy new police cars, get, get new infrastructure, help with their water quality. This is part of my Payless to DC, get more back from DC campaign which addresses. Affordability, quality of life, and things that we Long Islanders want. We want to be different, uh, from New York City. They're going on this Mondami socialist path path. We want to be different here in Long Island. My record stands, uh, for that. All right, Congressman Nick Lalota, thanks again for coming in the studio this morning. Thanks, Congressman. Thanks guys.

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LIMikeLiPetri11326_2026-11-03-06-45-06

Voters. Another one of the races that we are watching the 3rd congressional district covering much of the North Shore of Nassau County, including Great Neck, Hicksville, and even Huntington in Suffolk County. Former state assemblyman and Republican Mike LePetri is challenging Democrat incumbent Tom Swazzi, and Mike LePetri joins us live now on the morning show. Mike, good to see you. Thanks for being here. Let's talk about the state of the race here. I spoke to the RNC chairman Joe Gruders yesterday. He says this is one of the races Republicans have the best chance to flip in New York. State. Why do you think that is and what do you need to do to get it done? Well, it really comes down to it's a time for change. Unfortunately, my opponent has 30 years in office where at every level of government he has raised our taxes. He has sold us out the Democratic leadership so he can continue making millions of dollars trading stocks while in Congress. That's why he voted no to lifting the salt tax cap, voted no to rejecting socialism and the DSA, voted no to banning congressional stock trading. Keeping boys out of girls' sports and voter ID. So it really comes down to choosing someone like myself who's here for public service while my opponents about self-service. I did it already as a New York State Assemblyman. I'm going to do it again as our congressman. I don't care if it's a Democrat idea or Republican idea. If it helps us, I'm for it. If it hurts us, I'm against it. You know, Mike, you just heard from someone that we interviewed at a poll site this morning saying it's about affordability. It's about gas prices. It's about putting food on my table. What can you do to make sure Long Islanders have that? Well, let's be clear, I mean, my opponent was somebody that completely loses all credibility on affordability because every level of government he has supported and done and done raising our taxes. So he's somebody who's raised our taxes at every level, somebody that voted no to the largest tax cut in history that puts more money in our pocket. And don't forget under Joe Biden when it was 4 years of high gas prices due to poor Democrat energy policies, my opponents said nothing. That's why most importantly what I want to do is continue continue on that buildup of the largest tax cut in history by making sure we can write off child care, baby formula, diapers, etc. All those make that tax deductible, so all those monies help us raise families instead of raising taxes like my opponent wants to do. Mike, lastly, this is a rematch. It's you and Swazi again from 2 years ago. It was close then. Do you think it will be close today? I think it's going to be even better than 2 years ago because we'll be winning it. We'll be exceeding 50%. Every vote is going to make a difference to make sure these radical leftists, these anti-Semites, these socialists do not take the majority. We need to have common sense. This seat right here is going to determine the fate of the majority, and we're going to make sure Republicans in charge. Republican congressional candidate Mike LePetri, thanks so much for joining us and coming into the studio this morning. Thank you.

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LItOMsUOZZI11326_2026-11-03-07-19-55

Looking forward to hearing from more voters this morning. Another one of the races we're watching closely, the 3rd congressional district covering much of the north shore of Nassau County, including Great Neck, Hicksville, even Huntington in Suffolk County. Incumbent Democrat Tom Swazzi is facing a challenge from former Assemblyman Mike LePetri in a rematch. Congressman Swazzi in our new. Room joining us now, Tom, we just spoke to your challenger Mike LePetri just a few minutes ago. He said it's going to be a different outcome than 2 years ago. What do you have to say to that? I think it's going to be a great day. I think I'm going to win this race. They threw everything they could at me. It was a pretty rough race. It was very, very nasty, quite frankly, but I feel really good, and I think that people are going to send a very strong message that they just want people to stop attacking each other. And they want people to work together to actually solve problems and make their lives better. You heard about that guy you just had on the show that said his gas prices are too high. Well, that's what people are worried about. They're worried about their groceries and their gas prices and the, the cost of living, health insurance, energy costs, and I have a 5 point affordability plan, and I think that that's gonna help address some of the concerns people have. People are sick of the fighting. They want us to work together. You made reference to it, Congressman. Republicans have poured a lot of money into this race trying to get you out of that seat in a year where they. Really need to guard against potential losses elsewhere. Why do you think they focused on you in your district? I think because President Trump won my district by 19,000 votes in 2024. And so the narrative for the past two years, oh, if we spent more money, we could have beaten Swazi. Or it could be because Bruce Blakeman's at the top of the ticket and they think because they want to help him going after me, we'll help him do better in Nassau County. Or it could be because they want to try and portray Democrats as being these crazy lefties and, you know, wild maniacs. And they can't do that with me around because I'm a reasonable person and I'm willing to work with anybody to actually get things done to try and make people's lives better, so that ruins that narrative. Uh, I wanna make a deal to try and make people's lives better, to deal with affordability. I wanna work on immigration that's been plaguing us for such a long period of time that actually secures the border permanently, goes after the violent criminals, but also treats other people like human beings, people that have been here for more than 10 years and haven't committed any crimes. So I'm, I'm trying to be a reasonable person. You often say that you often say that you cross the aisle to work with everyone. That will continue if you get elected today. 100%. I think that that's what our country needs. I think that's what the people want. That's what people, you know, everybody's like all these problems that we have. And they're like, what are you doing for me? What about my life? You know why are you there just to fight with each other and it's not worth doing these jobs just to win a race. It's only worth doing these jobs if you're actually solving problems to make people's lives better and it's very frustrating that everybody's spending all their time looking at their camera and just, you know, trying to go viral by attacking somebody. It's, it's a waste. All right, Congressman Tom Swazzi, thanks for joining us here live in our studio, and, uh, we'll talk to you after the results come in. Thanks again. OK, thanks.

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LIJeaninEDriscoll11326_2026-11-03-07-56-50

Of the races that we are watching closely, the 4th Congressional District covering parts of Hempstead, Rockville Center, and Long Beach. The Hempstead town receiver of taxes, Republican Janine Driscoll, is challenging Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen, and Janine Driscoll joins us now this morning. Thanks so much for joining us in the newsroom live on News 12 this morning, Election Day. Do you think you've done what it takes to make sure that you get elected this election day? Yes, absolutely, Erin, and thanks for having me on. I have worked very hard from the beginning. Um, we came in, uh, May, and we have hit the ground running nonstop, spoken to thousands of residents and worked very hard, uh, you know, especially lately, 1416 hour days getting our message out. Um, we work in concert with our team, Nassau County Republicans. And we really are expecting some big wins tonight at 9 o'clock. Janine, where is one issue where you can point to and say, I'm going to completely do it differently than Congresswoman Laura Gillen has done over the past two years? Well, I guess the biggest thing is I'm going to tell the truth. That's the first thing, which she doesn't do. And the second thing is I'm actually going to vote to reduce taxes and Provide tax relief for the residents where she has consistently voted against any type of tax relief from salt all the way to no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, uh, no tax on Social Security. She has betrayed Long Islanders, and I am going to be an advocate as I've always been for our Long Island residents. They can trust me to do the right thing for them. You know, Janine, so much of this midterm election is around affordability, especially here on Long Island. You hear it all the time, you know, after paying for gas and groceries, there's not a lot left. What can we do to make sure that life is better for Long Islanders here financially? Well, I mean, the key really is putting more money back into people's pockets, into their bank accounts, and you do that by lifting the salt cap. That's the first thing. And that is something that can be done because there's always a negotiation. There's Always an agreement to be had with these other congresspeople from other states. So when people say no, you're not going to be able to do that, we can do that. We have to be able to work across the aisle. We have to work with the other side and come to agreements, um, you know, other things. Capital gains tax has remained at $500,000. Let's take a look at that. Maybe more people will be able to sell their homes. I think we have a lot of people holding on to homes because they're afraid of getting whacked with the big tax. Um, so those are things to, to really consider and really. To look at and, and, and, you know, a third, uh, area are these tax caps that are there's always a threat we're gonna override the tax cap, the school tax. Let's look at how to make that a little bit tighter, um, maybe have conversations with some of the schools. Let's, how can we work on lowering some of these school taxes because as you know, I'm the person that collects the school taxes. I don't set them. I don't set any budgets. I don't vote on any budgets, um, you know, and, uh, actually last. I came home from work. Uh, we're in the middle of our levee right now on the first half of school collection, and what did I have in my mailbox? A mailer from Laura Gillen saying, Don't let Janine Driscoll continue to raise taxes. Uh, so it really struck me that even in the 11th hour she's still pushing this false narrative. So I'm here to fight for each and every one of our residents. I've been doing that and I'm committed to do it until the end, and you're going to see a very responsive congresswoman elected in January. OK, Janine Driscoll, thanks so much for coming on into the newsroom and giving us your last push to voters this election day.

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LIPatHalpin11326_2026-11-03-08-13-40

One of the races that we are closely watching, the 2nd congressional district covering most of the South Shore of Suffolk County into Nassau County from Shirley to Massapequa. Republican Congressman Andrew Garburino is facing a challenge from Democrat and former Suffolk County executive Pat Halpin. Pat Halpin now joins us this morning from our newsroom. Pat, thanks for being here this morning. It's great to be here. Thanks for having me. We're glad to have you here. Tell us about, uh, your pitch to voters here along the final stretch. What are you telling people today? Well, as I was driving here listening to news radio, I heard something really compelling which tells a story about where we are. The price of heating oil, the price of gasoline, the price of diesel is the highest it has ever been on an election day in history right here on Long Island and throughout the country, and that's because of this illegal war. It's because of illegal tariffs and frankly that billionaires are getting away with everything they want. And now it's up to we the people, not the billionaires, not the Elon Musks, to decide who will represent them in Congress and will Congress be a co-equal branch in government and do its job to end these tariffs, to end this ridiculous war, and to drive costs down. Remember, it's we the people, not we the billionaires, not we Elon Musk, we the people. The first three words in our Constitution. Now Pat, you're challenging, of course, Andrew Gorburino. We should just, full disclosure, asked Andrew to be on this morning. He declined to be on. There was no debate either. Do you think you've had enough to talk to Gorburino about, to challenge him about? You know, I said, I would have been happy to debate on this channel and anyplace else. In fact, I said, I will, I put, posted this. I, Andrew, I will debate you anywhere, anyplace, anytime, and you can pick the moderator. In fact, I did that in front of the Savill Inn, one of his favorite watering holes. I said, you can pick the bartender to be the, to be the moderator. But we need to debate and the people need to hear from you and they need to hear from me and you need to be held accountable for these votes that are hurting a lot of people with the high cost of healthcare, the high cost of living, the high cost of groceries, the high cost of everything. All right, Pat Halpin, thank you so much once again and uh we'll talk to you here as the results play out tonight. Thanks, Pat.

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Election Day is underway, and News 12 is bringing you voices from across Long Island to sound off on the historic races that could shape the future of New York and the country.

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Rep. Laura Gillen (D):

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Rep. Nick LaLota (R):

Mike LiPetri (R):

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D):

Jeanine Driscoll (R):

Pat Halpin (D):

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