Heavily favored Long Island Republican Rep. Nick LaLota declared a midterms victory against Chris Gallant — his Democratic challenger with a past bondage modeling stint that resurfaced during the campaign.
LaLota claimed his win Tuesday night in the conservative NY-01 district while leading Gallant by two points, about 51% to 49%, Newsday reported.
“To every Long Islander who voted for me, thank you for your trust,” LaLota said in his victory speech.
“I will work hard every day to keep that trust. And for those who didn’t vote for me, I want you to know something — I am your congressman too,” he said.
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The 48-year-old incumbent has held the seat since 2022 after succeeding EPA Commissioner Lee Zeldin, and ran a pro-police campaign that also stressed border security, tax reduction, and opposition of “the Democrat Party’s march toward socialism.”
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Gallant, 37, conceded to LaLota Wednesday evening, as he was trailing by roughly 7,000 votes, according to state election data.
“Last night, the voters of the First District made their decision, and I fully respect it,” Gallant said.
The close results “show that Long Island is not satisfied with the status quo,” Gallant added, looking at the glass half full.
The progressive dem’s campaign focused on reducing the cost of living, affordable healthcare, and infrastructure projects related to the risk of coastal flooding and extreme weather.
The race between Naval Academy graduate LaLota and Gallant, a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Army National Guard, heated up in more ways than one a month and a half ago.
The Post in September uncovered dated pictures showing Gallant modeling in steamy poses wearing a collar with a metal chain and other S&M harnesses for San Francisco-based fetish shop, “Mr. S Leather.”
More pictures of him in Mr. S Leather gear appear to have shown up on gay porn sites that do not appear to be affiliated with “Mr. S Leather.”
His attorney Sara Azari explained to The Post in September that Gallant had a limited understanding with “Mr. S Leather” and was “never intended to authorize unrestricted publication” by any third parties.
The Suffolk County Conservative Committee blasted Gallant in a September Facebook post that read “Is this who you want to represent us in Washington DC?”
But Gallant, also a volunteer firefighter, turned the other cheek and used the sultry exposure as a political opportunity.
He ran a recent ad that read “make politics sexy again.”
He also compared himself to the sadistic protagonist of “50 Shades of Grey” in an October interview with the New York Times — declaring, “I make Christian Grey look like amateur hour.”
“I mean, all my friends know I’m kinky,” he boasted.
