Long Island's 4 House members significantly outraise potential opponents, data shows

WASHINGTON — Long Island’s four U.S. House members have collected and stockpiled millions of dollars for their 2026 campaigns, significantly outraising all other candidates who have announced they are seeking to replace them.

"Early money in the bank is the best," said Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, of the significant campaign war chests built up by the lawmakers, as reflected in their latest filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Raising large amounts of cash during a midterm election year reflects not just high name recognition, Baker said, but "is a serious muscle flex that alerts any would-be challengers and their party committees that they would need to match or beat big incumbent money."

Erin Covey, a House elections expert at the nonpartisan handicapper The Cook Political Report, does underscore that this is early, saying, "For the most competitive districts, you'll see outside investment from both parties regardless of the candidates' fundraising."

Here’s what the latest FEC campaign finance reports that were due this past weekend from congressional candidates show:

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) led the Long Island delegation by hauling in $3.2 million from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. That was the 40th highest amount raised over the past year by members of both parties in the 435-seat House, FEC filings show.

Suozzi’s cash-on-hand amount also is the highest among the Long Island delegation. Overall, nearly $4.5 million now sits in his coffers after the campaign spent or disbursed more than $800,000 in 2025.

Gregory Hach, a Republican seeking his party’s nomination to challenge Suozzi in the 3rd Congressional District, has $300,900 in the bank, his new FEC filing shows. He raised $10,259 of that in 2025 but also added a $350,000 loan to his campaign. He spent or disbursed $68,551 in 2025.

Suozzi’s 2024 Republican general election challenger, former Assemb. Michael LiPetri Jr., announced his candidacy on Tuesday for a rematch.

Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) in the 4th District raised $2.8 million last year, the 64th highest amount raised in the House. Gillen spent $691,786 and has $2.19 million in the bank.

Another Democrat listed as running for the seat, Gian Jones, raised $18,928 in 2025, and has $9,652 on hand.

A third Democrat, Nicholas Jude Sciretta, reported collecting $7.

The FEC as of Monday did not immediately have fundraising information posted or processed from three others: Brian Miller and Dennis Joseph McGrath, both Republicans, and Democrat Kiana Bierria-Anderson.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in the 1st District collected $2.4 million last year, the 82nd highest amount in the House. LaLota spent $501,745 and, with other money previously raised, he has more than $2.57 million stockpiled.

Two Democrats running for LaLota’s seat also filed reports. Christopher Gallant reported raising $306,336 and has $47,783 on hand. Lukas Ventouras reported raising $27,305 for his campaign, including loans of more than $3,000 from himself, and having $23,798 on hand.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) raised $1.9 million last year, the 125th highest amount in the House. The 2nd District representative spent more than $1 million. With other money previously raised, he has $2.35 million in the bank.

Former Suffolk County Executive Patrick Halpin, a Democrat running for Garbarino's seat, reported raising $282,768 and having $134,038 on hand. Another Democrat, Jessica Nicole Murphy, reported collecting $10,060 and having $3,437 in her coffers. A third Democrat, Josh Taveras, reported raising $1,528 and having $1,236 on hand.

Donald Nieman, a history professor at Binghamton University, said he agrees with Rutgers' Baker that incumbency is typically powerful. "Part of that has been name recognition and the ability to do what Suozzi has done — amass large amounts of cash," he said.

But he also said campaigns have been changing: Gerrymandering is now the biggest advantage incumbents have, leaving fewer competitive districts to fight over nationally.

"And even in the districts that are competitive, the incumbents' cash stash has become less and less of an advantage with so few competitive districts," Nieman said.

"The parties and ideologically driven political action committee will help challengers because there are relatively few places to invest productively."