EMILY’s List is endorsing Nancy Goroff in the Long Island race to take on freshman Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, NY1 has learned.

Goroff, who previously received the organization’s backing during her failed 2020 bid for Congress, is currently facing off against former CNN commentator John Avlon for the Democratic nomination in the Suffolk County district.

In a statement, EMILY’s List President Jessica Mackler called Goroff the “best candidate to take this seat back.”

What You Need To Know

  • EMILY’s List is endorsing Democrat Nancy Goroff in the Long Island race to take on freshman Republican Congressman Nick LaLota, NY1 has learned

  • “Nancy Goroff is a champion for Long Islanders who has spent her life serving and bettering her community," the EMILY's List president said in a statement

  • Goroff's primary challenger, John Avlon, has argued he is better situated to flip the seat, pointing to Goroff’s performance in 2020, when she lost by nearly 10 points to incumbent Lee Zeldin, a Republican 

  • Under the recently revised congressional map, the district backed Donald Trump by 1.8% in 2020

“Nancy Goroff is a champion for Long Islanders who has spent her life serving and bettering her community. In Congress, she’ll fight for our reproductive freedom and stand up to the Republican plan to ban abortion not just for New Yorkers but for all Americans,” the statement continued.

The 1st Congressional District is one of several Republican seats Democrats are eying as potential pickup opportunities in November, as they seek to win back control of the U.S. House. 

EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women candidates, is already endorsing Laura Gillen in her bid for New York’s 4th Congressional District, another competitive seat on Long Island. They also endorsed Liz Gereghty in her primary to take on Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley. Gereghty has since suspended her campaign.

Goroff taught chemistry at Stony Brook University for years, and chaired the department. In a recent interview, she told NY1 that the district “is my home. And it's where I raised my kids. It's where I built my career.”

Avlon has argued he is better situated to flip the seat. He points to Goroff’s performance in 2020, when she underperformed Biden in the contest, and lost by nearly 10 points to incumbent Lee Zeldin, a Republican. 

In recent days, Avlon has touted a handful of endorsements from current and former local officials, including Assemblyman Fred Thiele and former state Sen. Jim Gaughran.

An endorsement from EMILY’s List unlocks various resources for the candidate, including fundraising advice and communications support, according to a spokesperson for the organization.

Redistricting shifted New York’s 1st Congressional District slightly to the right. Under the old map, the district backed by Joe Biden by 0.2% in 2020. Under the updated map, it backed Donald Trump by 1.8%.

Just last week, LaLota gained a Republican primary challenger. Indicted former Rep. George Santos, who represented the 3rd district before his ouster from the U.S. House, announced his intent to take on LaLota for the nomination.