Nicolas LaLota

Nicolas Joseph LaLota is a Republican politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses the eastern portion of Long Island. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, he assumed office on January 3, 2023, and was subsequently re-elected in 2024. In Congress, he has served on several committees, including Armed Services, Homeland Security, Small Business, and Appropriations. LaLota's professional background is defined by his military service and education. A 2000 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy for eight years, completing three overseas deployments and attaining the rank of Lieutenant. Following his active-duty service, he earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University. His entry into local governance began as a trustee for the village of Amityville, where he served as the Budget Officer. Prior to his congressional career, LaLota held prominent roles in Suffolk County government. He served as the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections from 2015 to 2021 and later as the Chief of Staff to the Suffolk County Legislature. Throughout his career, he has focused on fiscal management, government accountability, and delivering municipal services, while also advocating for the interests of veterans and Long Island families.

LaLota’s policy platform emphasizes fiscal conservatism, national security, and local Long Island issues. He is a vocal advocate for State and Local Tax (SALT) relief and has introduced legislation to eliminate federal taxes on overtime pay for union workers, police, and firefighters. On national security, he supports increased border security and maintains a hardline stance toward the Chinese Communist Party while advocating for continued support for Israel. Regarding social issues, he has stated that abortion legislation should be handled at the state level and has publicly supported the legality of IVF. His environmental platform focuses on local conservation, such as the protection of Plum Island and the Long Island Sound, though his broader voting record has received low ratings from national environmental advocacy groups. Additionally, drawing on his experience as a former elections commissioner, he has publicly committed to the integrity of the democratic process and the certification of election results.