Republican Nick LaLota defeated Democratic challenger John Avlon, an ex-CNN anchor, in a competitive race for LaLota’s Long Island district. With 88% of the vote counted, the Associated Press projected LaLota the winner with 56% of the vote,

Republican Rep. Nick LaLota is projected to retain his U.S. House seat in New York’s 1st congressional district, defending it from Democratic challenger John Avlon.

Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican who represents Long Island, defeated Democratic challenger John Avlon in Tuesday’s election, keeping the island’s eastern end in GOP hands and giving the