| State: | New York |
| District Number: | 26 |
| Image Caption: | Interactive map of district boundaries |
| Representative: | Tim Kennedy |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Residence: | Lackawanna |
| Percent Urban: | 95.52 |
| Percent Rural: | 4.48 |
| Population: | 770,160 |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Median Income: | $63,995[1] |
| Percent White: | 64.8 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 7.1 |
| Percent Black: | 17.7 |
| Percent Asian: | 5.7 |
| Percent More Than One Race: | 3.8 |
| Percent Other Race: | 1.0 |
| Cpvi: | D+9[2] |
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.
Democrat Tim Kennedy was elected in a special election on April 30, 2024 to serve the remainder of Brian Higgins's term. Higgins had represented the district from 2013 to his resignation on February 2, 2024 to become president of Shea's Performing Arts Center.[3]
| 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% |
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.
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 | ||||||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | Dudley Marvin | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Lost re-election. | Robert S. Rose | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. | ||||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | Anti-Jacksonian | Anti-Jacksonian | ||||||||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829 | align=left | John Maynard | Anti-Jacksonian | Elected in 1826 | ||||||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 | align=left | Jehiel H. Halsey | Jacksonian | Elected in 1828. | align=left | Robert S. Rose | Anti-Masonic | Elected in 1828. | ||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | align=left | William Babcock | Anti-Masonic | Elected in 1830. | align=left | John Dickson | Anti-Masonic | Elected in 1830. Re-elected in the single-seat district. | ||||
| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Counties in the district | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | John Dickson | Anti-Masonic | nowrap | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | Re-elected in 1832. | ||||
| align=left | Francis Granger | Anti-Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | Elected in 1834. Lost re-election as a Whig. | ||||
| align=left | Mark H. Sibley | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | Elected in 1836. | ||||
| align=left | Francis Granger | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1839 – March 5, 1841 | Elected in 1838. Re-elected in 1840. Resigned to become U.S. Postmaster General. | ||||
| Vacant | nowrap | March 5, 1841 – May 21, 1841 | |||||||
| align=left | John Greig | Whig | nowrap | May 21, 1841 – September 25, 1841 | Elected May 13, 1841 to finish Granger's term and seated May 21, 1841. Resigned. | ||||
| Vacant | nowrap | September 25, 1841 – November 27, 1841 | |||||||
| align=left | Francis Granger | Whig | nowrap | November 27, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | Elected November 1, 1841 to finish Greig's term and seated November 27, 1841. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Amasa Dana | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | Elected in 1842. | ||||
| align=left | Samuel S. Ellsworth | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | Elected in 1844. | ||||
| align=left | William T. Lawrence | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | Elected in 1846. | ||||
| align=left | William T. Jackson | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | Elected in 1848. | ||||
| align=left | Henry S. Walbridge | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | Elected in 1850. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Andrew Oliver | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1857 | Elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Lost re-election as a Know Nothing. | ||||
| align=left | Emory B. Pottle | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. | ||||
| align=left | Jacob P. Chamberlain | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | Elected in 1860. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Giles W. Hotchkiss | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867 | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Lost renomination. | ||||
| align=left | William S. Lincoln | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 | Elected in 1866. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Giles W. Hotchkiss | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | Elected in 1868. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Milo Goodrich | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | Elected in 1870. Lost re-election. | ||||
| align=left | William H. Lamport | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1872. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Clinton D. MacDougall | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1874. Lost renomination. | ||||
| align=left | John H. Camp | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Sereno E. Payne | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | Elected in 1882. Redistricted to the . | ||||
| align=left | Stephen C. Millard | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1884. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | Milton De Lano | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Retired. | ||||
| align=left | George W. Ray | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1891 – September 11, 1902 | 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 | nowrap | September 11, 1902 – November 4, 1902 | |||||||
| align=left | John Wilbur Dwight | Republican | nowrap | November 4, 1902 – March 3, 1903 | Elected to finish Ray's term. Redistricted to the . | ||||
| align=left | William H. Flack | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1903 – February 2, 1907 | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Died. | ||||
| Vacant | nowrap | February 2, 1907 – March 3, 1907 | |||||||
| align=left | George R. Malby | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1907 – July 5, 1912 | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Died. | ||||
| Vacant | nowrap | July 5, 1912 – November 5, 1912 | |||||||
| align=left | Edwin A. Merritt | Republican | nowrap | November 5, 1912 – March 3, 1913 | Elected to finish Malby's term. Redistricted to the . | ||||
| align=left | Edmund Platt | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1913 – June 7, 1920 | 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 | nowrap | June 7, 1920 – November 2, 1920 | |||||||
| align=left | Hamilton Fish III | Republican | nowrap | November 2, 1920 – January 3, 1945 | 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. | ||||
| align=left | Peter A. Quinn | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | Elected in 1944. Lost re-election. | 1943–1953 Parts of Bronx | |||
| align=left | David M. Potts | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | Elected in 1946. Lost re-election. | ||||
| align=left | Christopher C. McGrath | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 | Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Elected Bronx County Surrogate Court Judge. | ||||
| align=left | Ralph A. Gamble | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1957 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Retired. | 1953–1973 Parts of Westchester | |||
| align=left | Edwin B. Dooley | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1963 | Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost renomination. | ||||
Ogden Reid | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1963 – March 22, 1972 | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the . | |||||
| Democratic | nowrap | March 22, 1972 – January 3, 1973 | |||||||
| align=left | Benjamin Gilman | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983 | Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the . | 1973–1983 All of Orange, Rockland, parts of Ulster | |||
| align=left | David O'Brien Martin | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | Redistricted from the 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 | |||
| align=left | Maurice Hinchey | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the . | 1993–2003 All of Ulster, parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins | |||
| align=left | Thomas M. Reynolds | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 | Redistricted from the 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 | |||
| align=left | Chris Lee | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 2009 – February 9, 2011 | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Resigned. | ||||
| Vacant | nowrap | February 9, 2011 – June 1, 2011 | |||||||
| align=left | Kathy Hochul | Democratic | nowrap | June 1, 2011 – January 3, 2013 | Elected to finish Lee's term. Lost re-election when redistricted to the . | ||||
Brian Higgins | Democratic | January 3, 2013 – February 2, 2024 | Redistricted from the 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 – May 6, 2024 | ||||||||
| align=left | Tim Kennedy | Democratic | May 6, 2024 – present | Elected to finish Higgins's term. | |||||
| 2025–present Parts of Erie, Niagara--> | |||||||||
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").