New York's 23rd congressional district explained

State:	New York
District Number:	23
Image Caption:	Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative:	Nick Langworthy
Party:	Republican
Residence:	Pendleton
Percent Urban:	47.56
Percent Rural:	52.44
Population:	770,357
Population Year:	2022
Median Income:	$66,388^[1]
Percent White:	88.0
Percent Hispanic:	3.8
Percent Black:	2.3
Percent Asian:	1.2
Percent More Than One Race:	3.8
Percent Other Race:	0.3
Percent Native American:	0.8
Cpvi:	R+12^[2]

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 six entire counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties, along with parts of Erie County.^[3] The largest cities in the district are Jamestown, and Elmira.

Democrat Tracy Mitrano challenged Republican incumbent Tom Reed in the November 6, 2018 election.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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 Nick Langworthy.

Recent statewide election results

1992	President	G.H.W. Bush 40–37%
1996	President	B. Clinton 46–39%
2000	President	Bush 49–47%
2004	President	G.W. Bush 51–47%
2008	President	Obama 50–49%
2012	President	Romney 49–48%
2016	President	Trump 54–39%
2020	President	Trump 54–43%

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	Cong ress	Electoral history
District established March 4, 1823
align=left	Elisha Litchfield	Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825	Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822. Retired.
align=left	Luther Badger	Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827	Elected in 1824.
align=left	Jonas Earll Jr.	Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1831	Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828.
align=left	Freeborn G. Jewett	Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833	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 B
Years	Cong ress	Member	Party	Electoral history	Member	Party	Electoral history
nowrap	March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837		align=left	William K. Fuller		Jacksonian	Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834.	William Taylor		Jacksonian	Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836.
nowrap	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839		align=left	Bennet Bicknell		Democratic	Elected in 1836.		Democratic		Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834. Re-elected in 1836.
nowrap	March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841		align=left	Nehemiah H. Earll		Democratic	Elected in 1838. Lost re-election.	align=left	Edward Rogers		Democratic	Elected in 1838.
nowrap	March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843		align=left	Victory Birdseye		Whig	Elected in 1840. Retired.	align=left	A. Lawrence Foster		Whig	Elected in 1840.

1843–present: one seat

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District location
align=left	Orville Robinson		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845		Elected in 1842.
align=left	William J. Hough		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847		Elected in 1844.
align=left	William Duer		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851		Elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848.
align=left	Leander Babcock		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853		Elected in 1850.
align=left	Caleb Lyon		Independent	nowrap	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855		Elected in 1852.
align=left	William A. Gilbert		Opposition	nowrap	March 4, 1855 – February 27, 1857		Elected in 1854. Resigned.
Vacant		nowrap	February 27, 1857 – March 3, 1857
align=left	Charles B. Hoard		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861		Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858.
align=left	Ambrose W. Clark		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863		Elected in 1860. Redistricted to the .
align=left rowspan=2	Thomas Treadwell Davis		Unionist	nowrap	March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865		Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864.
	Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867				Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864.
align=left	Dennis McCarthy		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871		Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868.
align=left	R. Holland Duell		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873		Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the .
align=left	William E. Lansing		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1872.
align=left	Scott Lord		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877		Elected in 1874.
align=left	William J. Bacon		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879		Elected in 1876.
align=left	Cyrus D. Prescott		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883		Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880.
align=left	John T. Spriggs		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887		Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884.
align=left	James S. Sherman		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891		Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888.
align=left	Henry W. Bentley		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893		Elected in 1890.
align=left	John M. Wever		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1892.
align=left	Wallace T. Foote Jr.		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899		Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896.
align=left	Louis W. Emerson		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903		Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900.
align=left	George N. Southwick		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908.
align=left	Henry S. De Forest		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913		Elected in 1910.
align=left	Joseph A. Goulden		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1913 – May 3, 1915		Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	May 3, 1915 – November 2, 1915
align=left	William Bennet		Republican		nowrap	November 2, 1915 – March 3, 1917	Elected to finish Goulden's term.
align=left	Daniel C. Oliver		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919		Elected in 1916.
align=left	Richard F. McKiniry		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921		Elected in 1918.
align=left	Albert B. Rossdale		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923		Elected in 1920.
align=left	Frank A. Oliver		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1923 – June 18, 1934		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		nowrap	June 18, 1934 – January 3, 1935
align=left	Charles A. Buckley		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1945		Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Walter A. Lynch		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1951		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948.
align=left	Sidney A. Fine		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953		Elected in 1950. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Isidore Dollinger		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1953 – December 31, 1959		nowrap	Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Resigned.
Vacant		nowrap	January 1, 1960 – March 7, 1960
align=left	Jacob H. Gilbert		Democratic	nowrap	March 8, 1960 – January 3, 1963		Elected in 1960. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Charles A. Buckley		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1962.
align=left	Jonathan Bingham		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973		Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Peter A. Peyser		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974.
align=left	Bruce Caputo		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979		Elected in 1976.
align=left	Peter A. Peyser		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983		Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980.
align=left	Samuel S. Stratton		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1989		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986.
align=left	Michael McNulty		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993		Elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Sherwood Boehlert		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003		nowrap	Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Redistricted to the .
align=left	John M. McHugh		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 2003 – September 21, 2009		nowrap	Redistricted from the 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		nowrap	September 21, 2009 – November 3, 2009
align=left	Bill Owens		Democratic	nowrap	November 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013		Elected to finish McHugh's term. Re-elected in 2010. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Tom Reed		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 2013 – May 10, 2022		Redistricted from the 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		nowrap	May 10, 2022 – September 13, 2022
align=left	Joe Sempolinski		Republican		nowrap	September 13, 2022 – January 3, 2023	Elected to finish Reed's term. Retired.
Nick Langworthy	Republican	January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Elected in 2022.	2023–2025
2025–present -->		January 3, 2023 – present	118th	Elected in 2022.

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.

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.

Sources

Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. 1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. 1982. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.

External links

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
Election results via Clerk.house.gov:

42.3442°N -77.8458°W

Notes and References

Web site: My Congressional District. October 5, 2023. June 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629192920/https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=36&cd=23. live.
Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. en.
Web site: 2023-01-03 . About Congressman Nick Langworthy . 2023-10-13 . langworthy.house.gov . en.
Reynolds, Nick (July 3, 2018). "Tracy Mitrano to face Tom Reed in November ". Ithaca.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
Ballotpedia "https://ballotpedia.org/New_York%27s_23rd_Congressional_District_election,_2018 ". Ballotpedia.com
Web site: Rep. Tom Reed apologizes after sexual harassment allegations, won't run for Governor, re-election. March 21, 2021. Stockburger. George. LocalSYR. March 21, 2021. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322034923/https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/rep-tom-reed-apologizes-after-sexual-harassment-allegations-wont-run-for-governor-re-election/. live.