Nancy Goroff, the Democratic Party’s 2020 nominee to represent New York’s First Congressional District, has announced a second bid for the party’s nomination, three years after losing the election to then-Representative Lee Zeldin.
Ms. Goroff, a former scientist and professor with Stony Brook University, where she served as chairwoman of the chemistry department, won her party’s nomination in 2020 but lost to Mr. Zeldin in the general election by 10 percentage points.
In that year’s Democratic primary election, Ms. Goroff prevailed over Perry Gershon, an East Hampton resident and the party’s 2018 nominee, by just 661 votes. But she finished a distant third in East Hampton Town, with 604 votes, to Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming’s 1,948 votes and Mr. Gershon’s 906 votes. Ms. Goroff also finished behind Ms. Fleming and Mr. Gershon in Southampton Town, but finished on top in vote-rich Brookhaven Town.
She joins former State Senator James Gaughran, a Democrat who filed papers in August to run for the House of Representatives in the First District, in seeking her party’s nomination.
Ms. Fleming, a late entrant in the 2020 race, was the Democrats’ nominee in 2022, losing to Nick LaLota in the race to succeed Mr. Zeldin, who lost narrowly in his challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Ms. Fleming is not seeking re-election to the Legislature.
“The people of Suffolk deserve a representative who will work hard and find solutions to the major problems facing our community,” Ms. Goroff, who lives in Stony Brook, said in an Oct. 4 statement announcing her candidacy. “Suffolk County is my home and where I raised my family. I am frustrated, like many voters, by politicians’ inability to resolve the affordability crisis, protect our environment, and ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. I’m running for Congress to tackle these pressing issues and get results for Long Islanders.”
The statement announcing her candidacy included supportive statements by Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk Democratic Committee chairman, and Anthony Portesy, the Brookhaven Democratic Committee chairman.
Last Thursday, Ms. Goroff said she had already raised more than $325,000 for the campaign and won an endorsement from 3.14 Action, which seeks to elect scientists to Congress.
A spokesman for Mr. LaLota, who is serving his first term in Congress, confirmed this week that he will seek re-election next year. Newsday reported in August that Darrion Stewart had filed to run against Mr. LaLota in the Republican primary.
In July, an Albany appeals court ordered a redrawing of the state’s congressional map, which, if upheld, could change the district’s boundaries anew, as happened last year.
This story has been updated since it was first published to clarify Mr. Schaffer's comments about Ms. Goroff as well as Mr. LaLota's intent to run for re-election.
