New York's 27th congressional district

New York’s 27th congressional district was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in western New York. It included all of Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties and parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, and Ontario counties. The district contained most of the eastern and southern suburbs of Buffalo, most of the southern suburbs of Rochester, as well as large rural areas to the east and south. The seat was last occupied by Republican Chris Jacobs, who won a special election on June 23, 2020.[1][2] Previously, it had been vacant from October 1, 2019, when Republican incumbent Chris Collins resigned after pleading guilty to charges of insider trading.[3]

New York's 27th congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1820
Eliminated2020
Years active1823–2023

It was the most Republican-leaning district in the state, with Donald Trump having won it by 24.5 points in 2016. It was also one of the most conservative districts in the Northeastern United States, leaning more Republican than any district in New England or New Jersey.

History edit

The precursor to the district was the central Erie county seat numbered the 30th district in the 1990s. In the 1980s this area was in the 33rd district. In the 1970s it was numbered the 37th district, although certain suburban areas were in the 38th district (later the 31st). None of these districts included the Jamestown area, which had always been in the southern tier district (now the 29th district) in prior maps. The 27th district covered the area now in the 26th district in the 1990s and the Syracuse area (now the 25th district) in the 1980s. It was the Southern Tier seat now numbered the 22nd in the 1970s. In the 1960s this district was in the lower Hudson Valley covering the area now in the 19th district.

The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census.[4] Following the reapportionment process after the 2020 census, New York came just 89 people short of retaining its 27th congressional district. The 435th seat instead went to Minnesota. The district was eliminated after the 2022 midterm elections.

Voting edit

Year Office Results
1992 President Bush 42–33%
1996 President Clinton 43–43%
2000 President Gore 53–41%
2004 President Kerry 53–45%
2008 President Obama 54–44%
2012 President Romney 55–43%
2016 President Trump 59–35%
2020 President Trump 57–41%

List of members representing the district edit

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location (counties)
District established March 4, 1823
Moses Hayden
(York)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th
19th
Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
[data missing]
1823–1833
[data missing]
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
 
Daniel D. Barnard
(Rochester)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1829
20th Elected in 1826.
Lost re-election.
Timothy Childs
(Rochester)
Anti-Masonic March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831
21st Elected in 1828.
[data missing]

Frederick Whittlesey
(Rochester)
Anti-Masonic March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
22nd Elected in 1830.
Redistricted to the 28th district.
Edward Howell
(Bath)
Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
23rd Elected in 1832
[data missing]
1833–1843
[data missing]
Joshua Lee
(Penn Yan)
Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
24th Elected in 1834.
[data missing]
John T. Andrews
(North Reading)
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
25th Elected in 1836.
[data missing]
Meredith Mallory
(Hammondsport)
Democratic March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1841
26th Elected in 1838.
[data missing]
William M. Oliver
(Penn Yan)
Democratic March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
27th Elected in 1840.
[data missing]
Byram Green
(Sodus)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1842.
[data missing]
1843–1853
[data missing]
 
John De Mott
(Lodi)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1844.
[data missing]
John M. Holley
(Lyons)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 8, 1848
30th Elected in 1846.
Died.
Vacant March 8, 1848 –
November 7, 1848
Esbon Blackmar
(Newark)
Whig November 7, 1848 –
March 3, 1849
Elected to finish Holley's term.
[data missing]
 
William A. Sackett
(Seneca Falls)
Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853
31st
32nd
Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
[data missing]
 
John J. Taylor
(Owego)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1852.
[data missing]
1853–1863
[data missing]
 
John Mason Parker
(Owego)
Opposition March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
34th
35th
Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
[data missing]
Republican March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Alfred Wells
(Ithaca)
Republican March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1858.
[data missing]
 
Alexander S. Diven
(Elmira)
Republican March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1860.
[data missing]
 
Robert B. Van Valkenburgh
(Bath)
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
38th Redistricted from the 28th district and re-elected in 1862.
[data missing]
1863–1873
[data missing]
 
Hamilton Ward
(Belmont)
Republican March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1871
39th
40th
41st
Elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
[data missing]
 
Horace B. Smith
(Elmira)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the 28th district.
 
Thomas C. Platt
(Owego)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Redistricted to the 28th district.
1873–1883
[data missing]
 
Elbridge G. Lapham
(Canandaigua)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
July 29, 1881
44th
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Resigned when elected U.S. Senator.
Vacant July 30, 1881 –
November 7, 1881
47th
 
James W. Wadsworth
(Geneseo)
Republican November 8, 1881 –
March 3, 1885
47th
48th
Elected to finish Lapham's term.
Re-elected in 1882.
[data missing]
1883–1893
[data missing]
 
Sereno E. Payne
(Auburn)
Republican March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
49th Redistricted from the 26th district and re-elected in 1884.
[data missing]
 
Newton W. Nutting
(Oswego)
Republican March 4, 1887 –
October 15, 1889
50th
51st
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888
Died.
Vacant October 16, 1889 –
December 2, 1889
51st
 
Sereno E. Payne
(Auburn)
Republican December 2, 1889 –
March 3, 1893
51st
52nd
Elected to finish Nutting's term.
Re-elected in 1890.
Redistricted to the 28th district.
 
James J. Belden
(Syracuse)
Republican March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1892.
[data missing]
1893–1903
[data missing]
 
Theodore L. Poole
(Syracuse)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
[data missing]
 
James J. Belden
(Syracuse)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
55th Elected in 1896.
[data missing]
 
Michael E. Driscoll
(Syracuse)
Republican March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1903
56th
57th
Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Redistricted to the 29th district.
 
James S. Sherman
(Utica)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909
58th
59th
60th
Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
[data missing]
1903–1913
[data missing]
 
Charles S. Millington
(Herkimer)
Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1911
61st Elected in 1908.
[data missing]
 
Charles A. Talcott
(Utica)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Redistricted to the 33rd district.
 
George McClellan
(Chatham)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
1913–1945
All of Columbia, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster
 
Charles B. Ward
(Debruce)
Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1925
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired.
 
Harcourt J. Pratt
(Highland)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1933
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Retired.
 
Philip A. Goodwin
(Coxsackie)
Republican March 4, 1933 –
June 6, 1937
73rd
74th
75th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Died.
Vacant June 7, 1937 –
November 1, 1937
75th
 
Lewis K. Rockefeller
(Chatham)
Republican November 2, 1937 –
January 3, 1943
75th
76th
77th
Elected to finish Goodwin's term.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Retired.
 
Jay LeFevre
(New Paltz)
Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Redistricted to the 30th district.
 
Ralph W. Gwinn
(Bronxville)
Republican January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1959
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Retired.
1945–1963
All of Putnam, parts of Westchester
 
Robert R. Barry
(Yonkers)
Republican January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1963
86th
87th
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the 25th district.
 
Katharine St. George
(Tuxedo Park)
Republican January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
88th Redistricted from the 28th district and re-elected in 1962.
Lost re-election.
1963–1971
All of Delaware, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan
 
John G. Dow
(Grand View)
Democratic January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1969
89th
90th
Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Lost re-election.
 
Martin B. McKneally
(Newburgh)
Republican January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1971
91st Elected in 1968.
Lost re-election.
 
John G. Dow
(Grand View)
Democratic January 3, 1971 –
January 3, 1973
92nd Elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the 26th district and lost re-election.
1971–1973
All of Orange, Putnam, parts of Dutchess, Rockland, Sullivan
 
Howard W. Robison
(Candor)
Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1975
93rd Redistricted from the 33rd district and re-elected in 1972.
Retired.
1973–1983
All of Broome, Sullivan, Tioga, parts of Chemung, Delaware, Tompkins, Ulster
 
Matthew F. McHugh
(Ithaca)
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1983
94th
95th
96th
97th
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Redistricted to the 28th district.
 
George C. Wortley
(Fayetteville)
Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1989
98th
99th
100th
Redistricted from the 32nd district and re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Retired.
1983–1993
All of Onondaga, parts of Madison
 
James T. Walsh
(Syracuse)
Republican January 3, 1989 –
January 3, 1993
101st
102nd
Elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 25th district.
 
L. William Paxon
(Williamsville)
Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1999
103rd
104th
105th
Redistricted from the 31st district and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Retired.
1993–2003
All of Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, parts of Cayuga, Erie, Monroe, Seneca
 
Thomas M. Reynolds
(Springville)
Republican January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2003
106th
107th
Elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the 26th district.
 
Jack Quinn
(Hamburg)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2005
108th Redistricted from the 30th district and re-elected in 2002.
Retired.
2003–2013
 
All of Chautauqua, part of Erie
 
Brian Higgins
(Buffalo)
Democratic January 3, 2005 –
January 3, 2013
109th
110th
111th
112th
Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Redistricted to the 26th district.
 
Chris Collins
(Clarence)
Republican January 3, 2013 –
October 1, 2019
113th
114th
115th
116th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Resigned.
2013–2023
All of Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario
 
Vacant October 1, 2019 –
July 21, 2020
116th
 
Chris Jacobs
(Orchard Park)
Republican July 21, 2020 –
January 3, 2023
116th
117th
Elected to finish Collins's term.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 23rd district and then retired.
District dissolved January 3, 2023

Election results edit

In New York State electoral politics there are numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum. Certain parties would 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").

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Paxon (incumbent) 142,568 59.9%
Democratic Thomas M. Fricano 95,503 40.1%
Majority 47,065 19.8%
Turnout 238,071 100%
1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Reynolds 102,042 57.3% −2.6%
Democratic Bill Cook 75,978 42.7% +2.6%
Majority 26,064 14.6% −5.2%
Turnout 178,020 100% −25.2%
2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Reynolds (incumbent) 157,694 69.3% +12.0%
Democratic Thomas W. Pecoraro 69,870 30.7% −12.0%
Majority 87,824 38.6% +24.0%
Turnout 227,564 100% +27.8%
2002 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jack Quinn 120,117 69.1% −0.2%
Democratic Peter Crotty 47,811 27.5% −3.2%
Right to Life Thomas Casey 3,586 2.1% +2.1%
Green Albert N. LaBruna 2,405 1.4% +1.4%
Majority 72,306 41.6% +3.0%
Turnout 173,919 100% −23.6%
2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins 143,332 50.7% +23.2%
Republican Nancy A. Naples 139,558 49.3% −19.8%
Majority 3,774 1.3% −40.3%
Turnout 282,890 100% +62.7%
2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins (incumbent) 140,027 79.3% +28.6%
Republican Michael J. McHale 36,614 20.7% −28.6%
Majority 103,413 58.5% +57.2%
Turnout 176,641 100% −37.6%
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins (incumbent) 185,713 74.4% −4.9%
Republican Daniel J. Humiston 56,354 22.6% +1.9%
Conservative Harold W. Schroeder 7,478 3% +3%
Majority 129,359 51.8% −6.7%
Turnout 249,545 100% +41.3%
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Brian Higgins (incumbent) 119,085 60.9% −13.5%
Republican Leonard A. Roberto 76,320 39.1% +16.5%
Majority 42,765 21.9% 29.9%
Turnout 195,405 100% −21.7%
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Collins 161,220 50.8% +11.7%
Democratic Kathy Hochul 156,219 49.2% −11.7%
Majority 5,001 1.6% −20.3%
Turnout 317,439 100% +62.4%
2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Collins (incumbent) 144,675 71.1% +20.3%
Democratic Jim O'Donnell 58,911 28.9% −20.3%
Majority 85,764 42.2% +40.6%
Turnout 203,586 100% −35.9%
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Collins (incumbent) 220,885 67.2% −3.9%
Democratic Diana Kastenbaum 107,832 32.8% +3.9%
Majority 113,053 34.4% −7.8%
Turnout 328,717 100% +61.4%
2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Collins (incumbent) 140,146 49.1% −18.1%
Democratic Nate McMurray 139,059 48.8% +16%
Reform Larry Piegza 5,973 2.1% +2.1%
Majority 1,087 0.3% −34.1%
Turnout 285,178 100% −13.2%
2020 New York's 27th congressional district special election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Jacobs 81,036 51.8% +2.7%
Democratic Nathan McMurray 72,787 46.5% -2.3%
Libertarian Duane Whitmer 1,498 1.0% +1.0%
Green Michael Gammariello 1,043 0.7% +0.7%
Plurality 8,249 5.05% +4.75%
Turnout 156,364
2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New York: District 27[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Jacobs 192,756 50.2
Conservative Chris Jacobs 31,027 8.1
Independence Chris Jacobs 5,261 1.4
Total Chris Jacobs (incumbent) 229,044 59.7
Democratic Nate McMurray 136,783 35.7
Working Families Nate McMurray 12,776 3.3
Total Nate McMurray 149,559 39.0
Libertarian Duane Whitmer 4,884 1.3
Total votes 383,487 100.0
Republican hold

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ McKinley, Jesse (June 24, 2020). "Republicans Retain House Seat in Special Election in Western N.Y." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "NY Republican Chris Jacobs sworn in as newest House member". AP NEWS. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Orden, Erica (September 30, 2019). "Rep. Chris Collins to resign amid plans to plead guilty in insider trading case". CNN.
  4. ^ Merica, Dan; Stark, Liz (April 26, 2021). "Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "New York Special Election Results: 27th Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "2020 Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 3, 2020.