Langworthy re-elected, but his role will change
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Rep. Nick Langworthy will remain the 23rd Congressional representative in Congress, though he will be taking on a different role in the House minority when the new Congress is seated in January.
Langworthy defeated Aaron Gies of Olean, 59.4% to 39.15%, with Langworthy receiving 181,807 of the 305,882 ballots cast. Langworthy won each county in the district, 68.19% to 29.85% in Allegany County, 64.8% to 33.75% in Cattaraugus County, 58.35% to 40.34% in Chemung County, 56.72% to 41.87% in Erie County, 58.82% to 39.52% in Niagara County, 65.15% to 33.65% in Schuyler County, 63.76% to 35.03% in Steuben County and 58.23% to 40.37% in Tioga County. The most ballots in the race were cast in Erie County (130,320) and Chautauqua County (43,293).
"Last night's election results are a win for common sense and the truth. The people of Western New York and the Southern Tier sent a loud and clear message that they know I fight for them in Washington. The results are a powerful affirmation of my record of putting more money in taxpayers' pockets, making our communities safer, strengthening rural healthcare, and protecting their access to affordable, reliable energy," Langworthy said early Wednesday morning. "This is where I was born and raised, and where I am raising my own family. The people of this district are why I fight–for a better future for them, their children, and their grandchildren. While we are forgotten by Albany, I will always make sure our region has a seat at the table in Washington."
Results in the 23rd District race indicate Republicans in Chautauqua County may not have turned out in as great a number as they did in 2024. Gies received 17,129 votes in Chautauqua County, slightly fewer votes than the 17,491 votes Tom Carle received when challenging Langworthy two years ago. That’s a decrease of roughly 2.1% from 2024 to 2026. Langworthy received 25,564 votes in Chautauqua County and 36,798 in 2024, a 30.5% decrease from two years ago.
The House of Representatives that Langworthy has been re-elected to will have a much different look.
Democrats have won control of Congress in Tuesday's 2026 midterm elections. Democrats flipped at least seven Senate seats in red states and battlegrounds alike: Kansas, which hasn't elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. They held on to battleground seats in Georgia and Michigan. In the House, Democrats flipped more than two dozen districts, some that voted for Trump by double digits in 2024.
Langworthy will find himself in the House minority, a position similar to the one he was in while serving as chairman of the New York Republican State Committee from July 1, 2019, to March 23, 2023. During that time, Republicans held the minority in the state Legislature and held no statewide elected offices. While Republicans hold the presidency for the next two years, Langworthy will find himself having to cross party lines to accomplish legislative goals.
"We have a lot more work to do to make life better for hardworking Americans, and just as I have always done, I will work with anyone who is focused on common sense solutions that will benefit the residents of the 23rd Congressional District," Langworthy said. "Serving as your representative is one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue that service. Last night's results are a mandate to keep our sleeves rolled up, keep delivering results, and keep fighting for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous country."
Gies teaches theology and Franciscan studies at St. Bonaventure University. He won the Democratic nomination in June with more than 70% of the vote and held town hall meetings throughout the expansive 23rd Congressional District as part of his election campaign, including repeated trips to Jamestown and Dunkirk.
“We ran on a simple idea: a good life should be affordable for everyone. That means health care you can actually afford and rural hospitals that stay open. It means housing young families can buy, free school meals for every child, and rural schools that get the funding they deserve. It means fair prices for family farms and wages that let working people live a dignified life. None of that went away last night," Gies said. "I wish Congressman Langworthy success in every good work in his new term. I am hopeful that he will take the nation’s overwhelming rejection of Trumpism and his own narrower margin of victory as an occasion for reflection. After seventeen months, over two hundred fifty events and tens of thousands of miles, I am looking forward to a little time off. I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I would do it all again."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.