Democrat Chris Gallant Loses House Race After Leak of Old Fetish-Themed Modeling Photos - Time Magazine
Republican Rep. Nick LaLota has won re-election in New York’s 1st Congressional District in a race that drew national attention after fetish-themed photos that his Democratic challenger had posed for years earlier were published by a media outlet.
The Associated Press called the race for LaLota over Gallant, a 37-year-old retired military pilot, volunteer firefighter, and former air traffic controller, on Thursday.
When the centrist Gallant received the Democratic nomination in June, he was viewed by Democrats as someone who could give LaLota a run for his money in the reliably Republican Long Island district.
But Gallant’s congressional bid was disrupted in September, when the New York Post published an article revealing a photo campaign featuring Gallant modeling leather and other BDSM-related garb for fetish retailer Mr. S Leather.
The photographs had been taken in San Francisco in 2010, before Gallant turned 21, and featured the New Yorker engaging in several different sex acts with other men.
Gallant told the New York Times that he had requested that the retailer delete the shots shortly before he announced his candidacy in August 2025. The photographs were found anyway, triggering what could have potentially been a campaign-ending scandal.
“This is a coordinated political hit meant to drive me out of this race,” Gallant said in a Facebook video soon after the Post story dropped. “Look, I am very proud of who I am, and I won’t be shamed into silence.”
Gallant decided to use the photograph release in his favor, and redirected publicity around the scandal back to his campaign promises. Soon after the article dropped, Gallant’s social media team posted a new ad of him which read “Make Politics Sexy Again.”
“You know what’s sexy? A plan that actually delivers for Long Island,” the post read.
Gallant's bid ultimately fell short, with LaLota garnering 51.1% of the vote compared to the Democrat's 48.9% with 97% of ballots counted, according to the AP.
LaLota declared victory on Tuesday night, when partial results released after polls closed in New York showed him leading Gallant.
"To every Long Islander who voted for me, thank you for your trust," the congressman said. "I will work hard every day to keep that trust. And for those who didn’t vote for me, I want you to know something: I am your congressman too."
Gallant said in a video posted to his social media on Wednesday that he had called LaLota to concede.
"Last night, the voters of the first district made their decision, and I fully respect it," Gallant said, adding, "I wish Congressman LaLota well, and I hope he works on the things that we all told him we care about."
