U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville) declared victory Tuesday over a pair of Republican primary challengers in the 2nd congressional district.
Garbarino, a first term congressman running for re-election, won 54% of the vote with a lead of more than 3,000 votes over Robert Cornicelli, who won 36%, and Mike Rakebrandt, who came in third with 8%, according to unofficial early tallies by the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Cornicelli, however, had a 200-vote lead in the small part of the district that falls on the other side of the county line, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.
“I am incredibly grateful for the overwhelming grassroots support for my re-election that we’ve seen over the last few weeks,” Garbarino said. “We are going to carry this enthusiasm and momentum straight through to November.”
Garbarino will face a rematch on Election Day against former Babylon Town Councilwoman Jackie Gordon (D-Copiague), who lost to the congressman in 2020.
A attorney who served four terms as a New York State assemblyman and survived a prior GOP primary before winning his seat, the freshman congressman will be the most senior member of the Long Island congressional delegation, if he wins in November, after his three colleagues either sought higher office or declined to seek re-election.
It was not immediately clear if Cornicelli or Rakebrandt conceded the race.
