Colonel William A. Phillips

New York's 26th congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Western New York. It includes parts of Erie and Niagara counties. The district includes the cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna, Niagara Falls, Tonawanda, and North Tonawanda.

Brian Higgins, a Democrat, represented the district from 2013 to his resignation on February 2, 2024 to become president of Shea's Performing Arts Center.[3] A special election was forced to fill the vacancy as a result of Higgins' resignation.

Recent statewide election results

Year Office Results
1992 President Clinton 44–35%
1996 President Clinton 51–35%
2000 President Bush 51–44%
2004 President Bush 55–43%
2008 President McCain 52–46%
2012 President Obama 63–34%
2016 President Clinton 57–38%
2020 President Biden 62–35%

History

Historically, most of this district was located Upstate, However, over the years until the 2002 redistricting, most of this area was in the 27th District. During the 1980s this area was primarily in the 31st District. Two districts covered this area in the 1970s, the Erie County-based 38th and the Monroe County based 35th. The 26th District covered the area now in the 22nd District during the 1990s and the area now in the 23rd District during the 1980s. In the 1970s this district was centered in Orange and Rockland counties. During the 1960s it covered areas in Westchester County now in the 18th and 19th Districts.

Representatives

1823–1833: two seats

From the creation of the district in 1823 to 1833, two seats were apportioned, elected at-large on a general ticket.

Years Cong
ress
Seat A Seat B
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th
Dudley Marvin
(Canandaigua)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Lost re-election.

Robert S. Rose
(Geneva)
Democratic-Republican Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
[data missing]
March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
19th Anti-Jacksonian Anti-Jacksonian
March 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1829
20th John Maynard
(Ovid Village)
Anti-Jacksonian Elected in 1826
March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831
21st Jehiel H. Halsey
(Lodi)
Jacksonian Elected in 1828.
[data missing]

Robert S. Rose
(Geneva)
Anti-Masonic Elected in 1828.
[data missing]
March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
22nd William Babcock
(Penn Yan)
Anti-Masonic Elected in 1830.
[data missing]
John Dickson
(West Bloomfield)
Anti-Masonic Elected in 1830.
Re-elected in the single-seat district.

1833–present: one seat

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history Counties in the district
John Dickson
(West Bloomfield)
Anti-Masonic March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
23rd Re-elected in 1832.
[data missing]
[data missing]

Francis Granger
(Canandaigua)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
24th Elected in 1834.
Lost re-election as a Whig.

Mark H. Sibley
(Canandaigua)
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
25th Elected in 1836.
[data missing]

Francis Granger
(Canandaigua)
Whig March 4, 1839 –
March 5, 1841
26th
27th
Elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Resigned to become U.S. Postmaster General.
Vacant March 5, 1841 –
May 21, 1841
27th

John Greig
(Canandaigua)
Whig May 21, 1841 –
September 25, 1841
Elected May 13, 1841 to finish Granger's term and seated May 21, 1841.
Resigned.
Vacant September 25, 1841 –
November 27, 1841

Francis Granger
(Canandaigua)
Whig November 27, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
Elected November 1, 1841 to finish Greig's term and seated November 27, 1841.
Retired.

Amasa Dana
(Ithaca)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1842.
[data missing]
[data missing]

Samuel S. Ellsworth
(Penn Yan)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1844.
[data missing]
[data missing]
William T. Lawrence
(Cayutaville)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
30th Elected in 1846.
[data missing]
[data missing]

William T. Jackson
(Havana)
Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st Elected in 1848.
[data missing]
[data missing]

Henry S. Walbridge
(Ithaca)
Whig March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1850.
Retired.
[data missing]
Andrew Oliver
(Penn Yan)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1857
33rd
34th
Elected in 1852.
Re-elected in 1854.
Lost re-election as a Know Nothing.
[data missing]

Emory B. Pottle
(Naples)
Republican March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1861
35th
36th
Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
[data missing]
[data missing]

Jacob P. Chamberlain
(Seneca Falls)
Republican March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1860.
Retired.
[data missing]

Giles W. Hotchkiss
(Binghamton)
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1867
38th
39th
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Lost renomination.
[data missing]

William S. Lincoln
(Owego)
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
40th Elected in 1866.
Retired.
[data missing]

Giles W. Hotchkiss
(Binghamton)
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
Retired.
[data missing]

Milo Goodrich
(Dryden)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Lost re-election.
[data missing]

William H. Lamport
(Canandaigua)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
[data missing]

Clinton D. MacDougall
(Auburn)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1874.
Lost renomination.
[data missing]

John H. Camp
(Lyons)
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.

Sereno E. Payne
(Auburn)
Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th Elected in 1882.
Redistricted to the 27th district.

Stephen C. Millard
(Binghamton)
Republican March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
49th Redistricted from the 28th district and re-elected in 1884.
Retired.
[data missing]

Milton De Lano
(Canastota)
Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
50th
51st
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Retired.

George W. Ray
(Norwich)
Republican March 4, 1891 –
September 11, 1902
52nd
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Resigned to become a U.S. District Judge.
Vacant September 11, 1902 –
November 4, 1902
57th

John Wilbur Dwight
(Dryden)
Republican November 4, 1902 –
March 3, 1903
Elected to finish Ray's term.
Redistricted to the 30th district.

William H. Flack
(Malone)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
February 2, 1907
58th
59th
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Died.
[data missing]
Vacant February 2, 1907 –
March 3, 1907
59th

George R. Malby
(Ogdensburg)
Republican March 4, 1907 –
July 5, 1912
60th
61st
62nd
Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Died.
Vacant July 5, 1912 –
November 5, 1912
62nd

Edwin A. Merritt
(Potsdam)
Republican November 5, 1912 –
March 3, 1913
Elected to finish Malby's term.
Redistricted to the 31st district.

Edmund Platt
(Poughkeepsie)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
June 7, 1920
63rd
64th
65th
66th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Resigned when appointed to the Federal Reserve Board.
1913–1943
All of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam
Vacant June 7, 1920 –
November 2, 1920
66th

Hamilton Fish III
(Garrison)
Republican November 2, 1920 –
January 3, 1945
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Elected to finish Platt's term and elected in 1920 to the following term.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Lost re-election.
Peter A. Quinn
(New York)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election.
1943–1953
Parts of Bronx

David M. Potts
(New York)
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.

Christopher C. McGrath
(New York)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953
81st
82nd
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Elected Bronx County Surrogate Court Judge.

Ralph A. Gamble
(Larchmont)
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1957
83rd
84th
Redistricted from the 28th district and re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Retired.
| 1953–1973
Parts of Westchester

Edwin B. Dooley
(Mamaroneck)
Republican January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1963
85th
86th
87th
Elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Lost renomination.

Ogden Reid
(Purchase)
Republican January 3, 1963 –
March 22, 1972
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
Elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the 24th district.
Democratic March 22, 1972 –
January 3, 1973

Benjamin Gilman
(Middletown)
Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1983
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
Elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Redistricted to the 22nd district.
1973–1983
All of Orange, Rockland, parts of Ulster

David O'Brien Martin
(Canton)
Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
Redistricted from the 30th district and re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired.
1983–1993
All of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence

Maurice Hinchey
(Saugerties)
Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2003
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the 22nd district.
1993–2003
All of Ulster, parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins

Thomas M. Reynolds
(Springville)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2009
108th
109th
110th
Redistricted from the 27th district and re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired.
2003–2013

All of Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming, Parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans

Chris Lee
(Clarence)
Republican January 3, 2009 –
February 9, 2011
111th
112th
Elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Resigned.
Vacant February 9, 2011 –
June 1, 2011
112th

Kathy Hochul
(Hamburg)
Democratic June 1, 2011 –
January 3, 2013
Elected to finish Lee's term.
Lost re-election when redistricted to the 27th district.

Brian Higgins
(Buffalo)
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
February 2, 2024
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Redistricted from the 27th district and re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Resigned.
2013–2023

Parts of Erie, Niagara
2023–2025

Parts of Erie, Niagara
Vacant February 2, 2024 –
present
New member to be elected in 2024 to finish the term.

Election results

In New York electoral politics, there are numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum. Certain parties will invariably endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for every office; hence, the state electoral results contain both the party votes, and the final candidate votes (Listed as "Recap").

1996 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Maurice D. Hinchey (incumbent) 122,850 55.2
Republican Sue Wittig 94,125 42.3
Independence Douglas Walter Drazen 5,531 2.5
Majority 28,725 12.9
Total votes 222,506 100
1998 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Maurice D. Hinchey (incumbent) 108,204 61.8 +6.6
Republican Bud Walker 54,776 31.3 −11.0
Right to Life Randall Terry 12,160 6.9 +6.9
Majority 53,428 30.5 +17.6
Total votes 175,140 100 −21.3
2000 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Maurice D. Hinchey (incumbent) 140,395 62.0 +0.2
Republican Bob Moppert 83,856 37.0 +5.7
Right to Life Paul J. Laux 2,328 1.0 −5.9
Majority 56,539 25.0 −5.5
Total votes 226,579 100 +29.4
2002 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Reynolds 135,089 73.6 +36.6
Democratic Ayesha F. Nariman 41,140 22.4 −39.6
Right to Life Shawn Harris 4,084 2.2 +1.2
Green Paul E. Fallon 3,146 1.7 +1.7
Majority 93,949 51.2 +26.2
Total votes 183,459 100 −19.0
2004 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Reynolds (incumbent) 157,466 55.6 −18.0
Democratic Jack Davis 125,613 44.4 +22.0
Majority 31,853 11.3 −39.9
Total votes 283,079 100 +54.3
2006 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Reynolds (incumbent) 109,257 52.0 −3.6
Democratic Jack Davis 100,914 48.0 +3.6
Majority 8,343 4.0 −7.3
Total votes 210,171 100 −25.8
2008 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris J. Lee 148,607 55.0 +3.0
Democratic Alice Kryzan 109,615 40.5 −7.5
Working Families Party Jon Powers 12,104 4.5 +4.5
Majority 38,992 14.5 +10.5
Total votes 270,326 100 +28.6
2010 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris J. Lee (incumbent) 151,449 73.6 +18.6
Democratic Philip A. Fedele 54,307 26.4 −14.1
Majority 97,142 47.2 +32.7
Total votes 205,756 100 −23.9
2011 Special Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Courtney Hochul 47,519 42.58
Working Families Kathy Courtney Hochul 5,194 4.65
Total Kathy Courtney Hochul 52,713 47.24
Republican Jane L. Corwin 35,721 32.01
Conservative Jane L. Corwin 9,090 8.15
Independence Jane L. Corwin 2,376 2.13
Total Jane L. Corwin 47,187 42.28
Tea Party Jack Davis 10,029 8.99
Green Ian L. Murphy 1,177 1.05
Blank and void 259 0.23
Scattering 232 0.21
Total votes 111,597 100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic gain from Republican
2012 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins 212,588 74.8 +48.4
Republican Michael Madigan 71,666 25.2 −48.4
Majority 140,922 49.6 +2.4
Total votes 284,254 100 +38.2
2014 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins (incumbent) 113,210 68.1 −6.7
Republican Kathy Weppner 52,909 31.9 +6.7
Majority 60,301 36.2 −13.4
Total votes 166,119 100 −41.6
2016 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins (incumbent) 215,289 74.6 +6.5
Republican Shelly Schratz 73,377 25.4 −6.5
Majority 141,912 50.2 +14.0
Total votes 288,666 100 +73.4
2018 election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Higgins 156,968 68.0
Working Families Brian Higgins 8,929 3.9
Women's Equality Brian Higgins 3,269 1.4
Total Brian Higgins (incumbent) 169,166 73.3
Republican Renee Zeno 61,488 26.7
Total votes 230,654 100.0
Democratic hold
2020 election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Higgins 202,315 63.3
Working Families Brian Higgins 20,304 6.4
SAM Brian Higgins 657 0.2
Total Brian Higgins (incumbent) 223,276 69.9
Republican Ricky Donovan 91,687 28.7
Green Michael Raleigh 4,628 1.4
Total votes 319,591 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Higgins 141,942 57.8
Working Families Brian Higgins 14,941 6.0
Total Brian Higgins (incumbent) 156,883 63.9
Republican Steven Sams 70,547 28.7
Conservative Steven Sams 17,792 7.2
Total Steven Sams 88,339 36.0
Write-in 149 0.06
Total votes 245,371 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Joly, Aidan (November 12, 2023). "Brian Higgins announces plans to resign from Congress, set to take top Shea's job". WIVB-TV. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

References

42°57′43″N 78°50′28″W / 42.96194°N 78.84111°W / 42.96194; -78.84111