Who's running in New York's 2nd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Andrew Garbarino currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Delivering federal results for Long Island, the message his campaign leads with.
Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, his subcommittee's jurisdiction.
Capital markets policy, through his Financial Services role.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 2nd District since January 2021.
Vice chairman of the House Financial Services subcommittee on capital markets.
Chairman of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on cybersecurity and infrastructure protection.
Also carries the Conservative Party line on the November ballot.
Advanced from the June 23, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
As co-chair of the Congressional SALT Caucus he led the negotiation that quadrupled the state and local tax deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 — the single biggest tax change for Long Island homeowners in years — and introduced the SALT Deductibility Act to restore the deduction in full.
— Andrew Garbarino's office
He chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, running its work on counterterrorism, border security and cybersecurity, including oversight of CISA after the Salt Typhoon intrusions into the communications sector.
— Andrew Garbarino's office
Arguments against
The chairmanship has not translated into anything for the district: he is "nowhere to be found" and has shown "zero influence that matters", despite chairing the committee that oversees the agency handling disaster aid — aid the administration then denied to New York.
— Pat Halpin
He slept through and missed the first House vote on the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, "snoozing while voting to gut hospitals, slash food assistance and hand billionaires more tax breaks — all while Long Island families can't keep up with rent, childcare or medical bills."
— Pat Halpin's campaign
What we couldn’t verify
His response to the missed-vote and disaster-aid criticisms was not established from the sources found.
No Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee page about him by name was found; the case above comes from his opponent.
Affordability: lowering costs from rent to childcare to medical bills.
Public safety.
Creating housing options so people can stay on Long Island.
Protecting drinking water and preserving parks and beaches.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Suffolk County executive.
Chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority.
Created the Long Island Housing Partnership and launched community policing and anti-domestic violence programmes as county executive.
Also carries the Working Families Party line on the November ballot.
Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
He has actually run this county: Suffolk County Executive from 1988 to 1991, and a member of the State Assembly for five years before that, so he has managed its budget and its services rather than only voted on them.
— Pat Halpin's campaign
He is running to protect Medicaid and to reverse the cuts to hospitals and food assistance, arguing Long Island families cannot absorb them on top of rent, childcare and medical bills.
— Pat Halpin's campaign
Arguments against
"High Tax" Halpin "tried to ruin Suffolk County before he was thrown out of office after one term" — he lost re-election as county executive in 1991 after a single term.
— The campaign of Robert J. Gaffney, who defeated him in 1991, responding to a later Halpin comeback attempt
What we couldn’t verify
The "High Tax" line dates from an earlier Halpin comeback attempt rather than from this campaign; no criticism of him by name from Andrew Garbarino's campaign or from the National Republican Congressional Committee was found for 2026.
His positions on immigration, foreign policy and taxation beyond Medicaid were not stated in material available.
His fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New York held its primary on June 23, 2026. Republican incumbent Andrew Garbarino, who also carries the Conservative Party line, faces Democrat Pat Halpin, who also carries the Working Families line, in this southern Suffolk County district. New York allows fusion voting, so a candidate can appear on more than one party line. New York's 2026 elections use the congressional map enacted on February 28, 2024. Roster from the New York qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Arguments are shown for both candidates. Garbarino chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, which is the axis of the argument between them.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New York ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New York State Board of Elections.