NEW YORK—New York’s highly competitive U.S. House races, upstate and on Long Island, resulted in the election of politicians who will bring to the 119th Congress a somewhat different political agenda.
Despite a strong showing nationally for the Republican Party and President-elect Donald Trump, Democrat challengers managed to flip several districts, unseating Republican incumbents, including those they had unsuccessfully challenged two years prior.
At the same time, there were significant victories for Republicans. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) successfully defended his District 17 seat against Democrat Mondaire Jones, who previously held the same House seat and is identified with his party’s left wing. And, in District 1 on eastern Long Island, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) beat back a challenge from the progressive John Avlon….