# New York's 23rd congressional district

New York's 23rd congressional district is located in Upstate New York, and covers part of Buffalo's Northtowns, all of the Southtowns, and much of the Southern Tier. The district includes two of the eleven Finger Lakes: Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake.
The district comprises four entire counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Tioga Counties, along with parts of Schuyler, Steuben, Erie and Niagara Counties. The largest cities in the district are Jamestown, and Elmira.
Democrat Tracy Mitrano challenged Republican incumbent Tom Reed in the November 6, 2018 election. Reed won reelection on November 6, 2018, retaining his seat for a fourth term. Reed's 8.4% margin of victory was his smallest since his first election in 2012. Reed and Mitrano also faced off in 2020, where Reed won again, this time with a margin of 16.6%.
On March 21, 2021, in light of recent sexual harassment allegations, Reed announced that he would not be seeking reelection in 2022. He resigned on May 10, 2022, leaving the seat vacant. A special election was held on August 23, which was won by Republican Joe Sempolinski. Sempolinski opted not to run for a full term in the regularly scheduled 2022 election, which was won by Republican Nick Langworthy.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 53% - 45% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 60% - 35% |
| 2016 | Senate | Schumer 55% - 43% |
| 2018 | Senate | Farley 53% - 47% |
| 2018 | Governor | Molinaro 60% - 34% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Wofford 61% - 36% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 58% - 40% |
| 2022 | Senate | Pinion 61% - 39% |
| 2022 | Governor | Zeldin 64% - 36% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Henry 64% - 36% |
| 2022 | Comptroller | Rodríguez 60% - 40% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 61% - 39% |

## History

Due to reapportionment, various New York geographical districts have been numbered "23" over the years, including areas in New York City and various parts of upstate New York.

### 1913–1919

    Parts of Manhattan

### 1919–1969

    Parts of The Bronx

### 1969–1971

    Parts of The Bronx, Manhattan

### 1971–1973

    Parts of The Bronx

### 1973–1983

    Parts of The Bronx, Westchester

### 1983–1993

    All of Albany, Schenectady
    Parts of Montgomery, Rensselaer

### 1993–2003

    All of Chenango, Madison, Oneida, Otsego
    Parts of Broome, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Schoharie

### 2003–2013

    All of Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oswego, St. Lawrence
    Parts of Essex, Fulton, Oneida

### 2013–2023

    All of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins, Yates
    Parts of Ontario, Tioga

## List of members representing the district
### 1823–1833: one seat

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1823 |||||
| Elisha Litchfield (Delhi) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th | Redistricted from the 19th district and re-elected in 1822. Retired. |
| Luther Badger (Jamesville) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | Elected in 1824. [data missing] |
| Jonas Earll Jr. (Onondaga) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1831 | 20th 21st | Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. [data missing] |
| Freeborn G. Jewett (Skaneateles) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | 22nd | Elected in 1830. Retired. |

### 1833–1843: two seats

From 1833 to 1843, two seats were apportioned, elected on a general ticket.
| Years | Cong ress | Seat A | Seat A | Seat A | Seat B | Seat B | Seat B |
| Years | Cong ress | Member | Party | Electoral history | Member | Party | Electoral history |
| March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th | William K. Fuller (Chittenango) | Jacksonian | Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834. [data missing] | William Taylor (Manlius) | Jacksonian | Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. [data missing] |
| March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Bennet Bicknell (Morrisville) | Democratic | Elected in 1836. [data missing] | William Taylor (Manlius) | Democratic | Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836. [data missing] |
| March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Nehemiah H. Earll (Syracuse) | Democratic | Elected in 1838. Lost re-election. | Edward Rogers (Madison) | Democratic | Elected in 1838. [data missing] |
| March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Victory Birdseye (Pompey) | Whig | Elected in 1840. Retired. | A. Lawrence Foster (Morrisville) | Whig | Elected in 1840. [data missing] |

### 1843–present: one seat

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| Orville Robinson (Mexico) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Elected in 1842. [data missing] |
| William J. Hough (Cazenovia) | Democratic | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | 29th | Elected in 1844. [data missing] |
| William Duer (Oswego) | Whig | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851 | 30th 31st | Elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. [data missing] |
| Leander Babcock (Oswego) | Democratic | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | Elected in 1850. [data missing] |
| Caleb Lyon (Lyonsdale) | Independent | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Elected in 1852. [data missing] |
| William A. Gilbert (Adams) | Opposition | March 4, 1855 – February 27, 1857 | 34th | Elected in 1854. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 27, 1857 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | |
| Charles B. Hoard (Watertown) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | 35th 36th | Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. [data missing] |
| Ambrose W. Clark (Watertown) | Republican | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Elected in 1860. Redistricted to the 20th district. |
| Thomas Treadwell Davis (Syracuse) | Union | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th 39th | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. [data missing] |
| Thomas Treadwell Davis (Syracuse) | Republican | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | 38th 39th | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. [data missing] |
| Dennis McCarthy (Syracuse) | Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871 | 40th 41st | Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. [data missing] |
| R. Holland Duell (Cortland) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 24th district. |
| William E. Lansing (Chittenango) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Redistricted from the 22nd district and re-elected in 1872. [data missing] |
| Scott Lord (Utica) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected in 1874. [data missing] |
| William J. Bacon (Utica) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected in 1876. [data missing] |
| Cyrus D. Prescott (Rome) | Republican | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883 | 46th 47th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. [data missing] |
| John T. Spriggs (Utica) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | 48th 49th | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. [data missing] |
| James S. Sherman (Dover Plains) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. [data missing] |
| Henry W. Bentley (Boonville) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. [data missing] |
| John M. Wever (Plattsburg) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Redistricted from the 21st district and re-elected in 1892. [data missing] |
| Wallace T. Foote Jr. (Port Henry) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 | 54th 55th | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. [data missing] |
| Louis W. Emerson (Warrensburg) | Republican | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 | 56th 57th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. [data missing] |
| George N. Southwick (Albany) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 | 58th 59th 60th 61st | Redistricted from the 20th district and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. [data missing] |
| Henry S. De Forest (Schenectady) | Republican | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. [data missing] |
| Joseph A. Goulden (The Bronx) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – May 3, 1915 | 63rd 64th | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 3, 1915 – November 2, 1915 | 64th | |
| William Bennet (New York) | Republican | November 2, 1915 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Elected to finish Goulden's term. [data missing] |
| Daniel C. Oliver (New York) | Democratic | March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919 | 65th | Elected in 1916. [data missing] |
| Richard F. McKiniry (New York) | Democratic | March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921 | 66th | Elected in 1918. [data missing] |
| Albert B. Rossdale (New York) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Elected in 1920. [data missing] |
| Frank A. Oliver (The Bronx) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – June 18, 1934 | 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Resigned when appointed justice of the Court of Special Sessions. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 18, 1934 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | |
| Charles A. Buckley (New York) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1945 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Redistricted to the 25th district. |
| Walter A. Lynch (New York) | Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1951 | 79th 80th 81st | Redistricted from the 22nd district and re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. [data missing] |
| Sidney A. Fine (New York) | Democratic | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 | 82nd | Elected in 1950. Redistricted to the 22nd district. |
| Isidore Dollinger (New York) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – December 31, 1959 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th | Redistricted from the 24th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 1, 1960 – March 7, 1960 | 86th | |
| Jacob H. Gilbert (New York) | Democratic | March 8, 1960 – January 3, 1963 | 86th 87th | Elected in 1960. Redistricted to the 22nd district. |
| Charles A. Buckley (New York) | Democratic | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | Redistricted from the 24th district and re-elected in 1962. [data missing] |
| Jonathan Bingham (The Bronx) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973 | 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the 22nd district. |
| Peter A. Peyser (Irvington) | Republican | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977 | 93rd 94th | Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. [data missing] |
| Bruce Caputo (Yonkers) | Republican | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 | 95th | Elected in 1976. [data missing] |
| Peter A. Peyser (Irvington) | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | 96th 97th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. [data missing] |
| Samuel S. Stratton (Schenectady) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1989 | 98th 99th 100th | Redistricted from the 28th districtand re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. [data missing] |
| Michael McNulty (Green Island) | Democratic | January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 | 101st 102nd | Elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 21st district. |
| Sherwood Boehlert (New Hartford) | Republican | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the 24th district. |
| John M. McHugh (Pierrepont Manor) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – September 21, 2009 | 108th 109th 110th 111th | Redistricted from the 24th district and re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Army. | 2003–2013 |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 21, 2009 – November 6, 2009 | 111th | | 2003–2013 |
| Bill Owens (Plattsburgh) | Democratic | November 6, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | 111th 112th | Elected to finish McHugh's term. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the 21st district. | 2003–2013 |
| Tom Reed (Corning) | Republican | January 3, 2013 – May 10, 2022 | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th | Redistricted from the 29th district and re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Announced retirement, then resigned. | 2013–2023 |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 10, 2022 – September 13, 2022 | 117th | | 2013–2023 |
| Joe Sempolinski (Canisteo) | Republican | September 13, 2022 – January 3, 2023 | 117th | Elected to finish Reed's term. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Nick Langworthy (Pendleton) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–2025 |
| Nick Langworthy (Pendleton) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2025–present |

## Recent election results

In New York, there are numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum. Certain parties often 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.
US House election, 1984: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Samuel S. Stratton (incumbent) | 188,144 | 77.8 |
| | Republican | Frank Wicks | 53,060 | 21.9 |
| | Socialist Workers | Richard Ariza | 642 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135,084 | 55.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 241,846 | 100 |
US House election, 1996: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sherwood Boehlert (incumbent) | 124,626 | 64.3 |
| | Democratic | Bruce W. Hapanowicz | 50,436 | 26.0 |
| | Independence | Thomas E. Loughlin, Jr. | 10,835 | 5.6 |
| | Right to Life | William Tapley | 7,790 | 4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74,190 | 38.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 193,687 | |
US House election, 1998: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sherwood Boehlert (incumbent) | 111,242 | 80.8 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | David Vickers | 26,493 | 19.2 | +19.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84,749 | 61.5 | +23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 137,735 | | −28.9 |
US House election, 2000: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sherwood Boehlert (incumbent) | 124,132 | 60.5 | −20.3 |
| | Conservative | David Vickers | 42,854 | 20.9 | +1.7 |
| | Democratic | Richard W. Englebrecht | 38,049 | 18.6 | +18.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 81,278 | 39.6 | −21.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 205,535 | | +48.9 |
US House election, 2002: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John M. McHugh | 124,682 | 100 | +39.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124,682 | 100 | +61.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 124,682 | | −39.2 |
US House election, 2004: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John M. McHugh (incumbent) | 160,079 | 70.7 | −29.3 |
| | Democratic | Robert J. Johnson | 66,448 | 29.3 | +29.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93,631 | 41.3 | −59.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 226,527 | | +81.7 |
US House election, 2006: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John M. McHugh (incumbent) | 106,781 | 63.1 | −7.6 |
| | Democratic | Robert J. Johnson | 62,318 | 36.9 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44,463 | 26.3 | −15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 169,099 | | −25.4 |
US House election, 2008: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John M. McHugh (incumbent) | 129,991 | 65.3 | +2.2 |
| | Democratic | Michael P. Oot | 69,112 | 34.7 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60,879 | 30.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 199,103 | | +17.7 |
New York's 23rd congressional district special election, 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bill Owens | 73,137 | 48.3 | +14.0 |
| | Conservative | Doug Hoffman | 69,553 | 46.0 | +25.1 (2000) |
| | Republican | Dede Scozzafava (withdrew, but still on the ballot) | 8,582 | 5.7 | −59.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,584 | 2.4 | −28.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 151,272 | | −24.0 |
Scozzafava dropped out of the race just prior to the election and endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. The results were not certified by the New York State Board of Elections until December 15, 2009.
US House election, 2010: New York District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bill Owens (incumbent) | 82,232 | 47.5 | −0.8 |
| | Republican | Matt Doheny | 80,237 | 46.4 | +40.7 |
| | Conservative | Doug Hoffman | 10,507 | 6.1 | −39.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,995 | 1.2 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 172,976 | | +14.3 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Reed (incumbent) | 126,519 | 51.9 |
| | Democratic | Nate Shinagawa | 117,055 | 48.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 243,571 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Reed (incumbent) | 113,130 | 59.4 |
| | Democratic | Martha Robertson | 70,242 | 36.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 190,554 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Reed (incumbent) | 161,050 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | John Plumb | 118,584 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 279,634 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Reed (incumbent) | 130,323 | 54.2 |
| | Democratic | Tracy Mitrano | 109,932 | 45.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 240,255 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Reed (incumbent) | 181,060 | 57.7 |
| | Democratic | Tracy Mitrano | 129,014 | 41.1 |
| | Libertarian | Andrew Kolstee | 3,650 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 313,724 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Special Election Results (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Sempolinski | 38,749 | 53.1 |
| | Democratic | Max Della Pia | 34,001 | 46.6 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 218 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,968 | 100.0 |
23rd Congressional District Election Results (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Nick Langworthy | 192,694 | 64.9 |
| | Democratic | Max Della Pia | 104,114 | 35.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 296,808 | 100.0 |