- LaLota’s history of applauding the repeal of Roe v. Wade and calling it a "step in the right direction"—comments now scrubbed from his website—undercuts recent efforts to present a more moderate abortion stance (City & State, 8/11/22; Newsday, 10/22/24)
- Despite repeatedly stating opposition to a national abortion ban, LaLota endorsed or was affiliated with Republican Study Committee proposals for federal abortion restrictions, exposing him to charges of inconsistency (City & State, 7/24/23)
- LaLota’s support for abortion bans after the first trimester and for increased parental notification requirements are out of step with the broader preferences of his moderate district, as noted by editorial boards (Newsday, 10/24/24)
- Endorsements from anti-abortion groups and his support for limiting abortion protections in New York provide ammunition for critics who paint him as more extreme than he currently portrays (DCCC, 8/24/22)
- Voting to restrict abortion access for service members and opposing federal abortion funding conflict with claims of embracing a moderate, state-based approach—further complicating his messaging (New York Times, 8/17/24; PoliticsNY, 10/14/22)
2022: LaLota Viewed Reproductive Rights As State Issue According to PoliticsNY, "Believes reproductive rights are a state issue, based on the 10th amendment." [PoliticsNY, 10/14/22]
2022: LaLota Did Not Oppose Abortion In First Trimester Or For Rape, Incest, Or Life Of Mother According to PoliticsNY, "Does not oppose abortion in the case of rape, incest, life of the mother or in the first trimester." [PoliticsNY, 10/14/22]
2022: LaLota Opposed Abortion In The Second And Third Trimester According to PoliticsNY, "Opposes abortion in the second trimester and third trimester." [PoliticsNY, 10/14/22]
Nick LaLota Was Endorsed by Anti-Abortion Group According to a press release from the DCCC, "LaLota said he was, quote, ‘proud’ to be endorsed by a group whose platform criminalizes abortion without any exceptions, and believes allowing states ‘to dictate abortion policy is a step in the right direction.’" [Press Release - DCCC, 8/24/22]
Nick LaLota Expressed Support For Parental Notification And Involvement In Abortion Decisions According to Patch, "As a father of three daughters, I strongly support parental notification and involvement in such important decisions." [Patch, 10/23/24]
2024: LaLota Refuted Support For A National Abortion Ban According to City & State New York, "LaLota countered that the ads misrepresented his abortion views and that he did not support a national abortion ban." [City & State New York, 11/6/24]
By 9/29/22: Nick LaLota Updated Website To Allow Abortion Exceptions For Rape, Incest, Or Mother's Life According to City & State NY, "‘I do not oppose abortion in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother’s life,’ the page now reads." [City & State NY, 9/29/22]
9/29/22: Nick LaLota's Campaign Maintained His Abortion Position Had Not Changed According to City & State NY, "‘Nick's position on abortion has not changed. He remains in lockstep with the overwhelming majority of Americans opposed to extreme late-term abortion policies and in support of common-sense parental notification laws,’ LaLota campaign manager Lauren Lembo wrote in an email." [City & State NY, 9/29/22]
2023: Nick LaLota's Office Stated He Opposed a National Abortion Ban According to City & State, '“The Congressman does not support a national ban on abortion,” LaLota spokesperson Will Kiley said in a statement to City & State when asked about the caucus’ budget. “He believes that these policies are best settled by individual states.”' [City & State, 7/24/23]
2023: LaLota Expressed Support For Abortion Exceptions And Opposed Abortion After First Trimester According to Newsday, "LaLota spokesman Will Kiley said LaLota 'believes in exceptions in the case of rape and incest and to save the life of the mother, and also like most Americans, he opposes abortion after the first trimester.'" [Newsday (New York), 6/20/23]
2022: LaLota Supported Parental Notification For Minors Seeking Abortion According to PoliticsNY, "Believes parents of children who are considering abortion should be notified." [PoliticsNY, 10/14/22]
2020: Nick LaLota Criticized Opponent Over Abortion and Related Issues in State Senate Race According to a press release from the DCCC, "In 2020, LaLota criticized his Democratic opponent for New York State Senate 'on issues that are likely to become a cornerstone of every GOP state candidate this year—bail reform, immigration and abortion.'" [Press Release - DCCC Research Memo on Nick LaLota, 6/1/22]
By 9/29/22: Nick LaLota Maintained Opposition To Second And Third Trimester Abortions, Citing Middle Ground According to City & State NY, "It now mentions that he doesn’t oppose just third trimester abortions, but second trimester abortions too. LaLota frames this as a middle ground position, however. ‘Abortion is a personal and divisive topic but I will lead the charge to find common ground – and that is eliminating second and third trimester abortions,’ his website now reads." [City & State NY, 9/29/22]
2022: Nick LaLota Campaigned On Abortion Being A State Issue According to City & State, "Like Williams, LaLota also said that abortion should be left up to the states while campaigning." [City & State, 7/24/23]
2022: LaLota Won House Seat Despite Democratic Focus On Abortion Post-Dobbs According to Newsday, "D'Esposito, LaLota and Santos won their open seats despite attempts by Democratic challengers to tie them to the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling last year." [Newsday (New York), 6/20/23]
2022: LaLota Opposed Federal Abortion Ban And Supported State-Level Decision-Making According to Newsday, "All three freshman House Republicans from Long Island said during the 2022 campaign they would not support a federal ban on abortion, asserting states should decide abortion policy." [Newsday (New York), 6/20/23]
2022: Nick LaLota Stated Abortion Should Be Left Up To The States While Campaigning According to City & State (New York), "Like Williams, LaLota also said that abortion should be left up to the states while campaigning. A spokesperson for LaLota did not immediately return a request for comment." [City & State (New York), 7/24/23]
October 2024: Nick LaLota Opposed A National Abortion Ban During Debate According to CBS - 3 WREG (Memphis, Tennessee), "Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) took advantage of a Zoom debate format to push back on his Democratic challenger, John Avalon [...] As Avalon referenced LaLota's stated opposition to second and third trimester abortion, LaLota held up a printed piece of paper that said: 'I OPPOSE A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.'" [CBS - 3 WREG (Memphis, Tennessee), 10/22/24]
October 2024: Rep. Nick LaLota Opposed A National Abortion Ban According to CBS - 11 WJHL, "In an unusually graphic example of that aggressiveness on Monday, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) took advantage of a Zoom debate format to push back on his Democratic challenger, John Avalon [...] LaLota held up a printed piece of paper that said: ‘I OPPOSE A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.’" [CBS - 11 WJHL, 10/22/24]
2024: Nick LaLota Distanced Himself From GOP On Abortion According to New York Times, "LaLota, responding to attacks from Avlon, has moved to distance himself from the Republicans on abortion." [New York Times, 11/5/24]
2024: LaLota Stated He Did Not Support A National Abortion Ban According to City & State (New York), "LaLota countered that the ads misrepresented his abortion views and that he did not support a national abortion ban." [City & State (New York), 11/6/24]
2024: LaLota Attempted To Distinguish Himself From GOP On Abortion According to New York Times, "He also has tried to separate himself from his party’s more conservative positions on abortion in response to attacks from his opponent." [New York Times, 10/25/24]
2024: Nick LaLota Tried To Distance Himself From Conservative Abortion Positions According to New York Times, "He also has tried to separate himself from his party's more conservative positions on abortion in response to attacks from his opponent." [New York Times, 10/27/24]
2022: LaLota Opposed Federal Funding For Abortion Services According to PoliticsNY, "Does not think that federal funds should be used for abortion services." [PoliticsNY, 10/14/22]
Nick LaLota Opposed Federal Abortion Ban As Of 2024 According to Patch, "I do not support a federal abortion ban. Like 80 percent of Americans, I do not oppose abortion in the first trimester, or in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. [...] This is now a matter for the states to decide." [Patch, 10/23/24]
LaLota Announced Opposition to National Abortion Ban and Supported State Control According to Newsday, "LaLota said he would not support a national abortion ban and called the matter a 'state issue.' LaLota has said he does not oppose abortions in the first trimester." [Newsday (New York), 10/22/24]
Nick LaLota Applauded Dobbs Decision and Supported Limiting Abortion Protections According to a press release from the DCCC, "LaLota applauded the catastrophic Dobbs decision, and has advocated for New York to limit its own abortion protections." [Press Release - DCCC, 8/24/22]
2023: Nick LaLota Was Among 12 House Republicans Who Blocked Abortion Pill Ban In Spending Bill According to Patch, "Consistent with that, I was one of only 12 House Republicans in 2023 to block my party’s agriculture spending bill because it would have banned the abortion pill mifepristone from being mailed and dispensed at retail pharmacies." [Patch, 10/23/24]
D.C.C.C. Accused LaLota Of Prioritizing Extremism Over Constituents According to East Hampton Star, "In Congress, Mr. LaLota 'has prioritized extremism over Suffolk families by backtracking on campaign promises, voting to restrict abortion, and cutting funding for public safety and aid to Israel,' said Ellie Dougherty of the D.C.C.C." [East Hampton Star, 1/22/24]
August 2022: Nick LaLota Asserted 2019 Reproductive Health Act Allowed Third Trimester Abortions In New York According to City & State, "I hope it mobilizes voters to call out Albany Democrats who, in 2020, passed a law allowing third trimester abortions," LaLota said, referring to the 2019 Reproductive Health Act. [City & State, 8/11/22]
Up To At Least 8/31/22: Nick LaLota's Website Focused On Banning Late-Term Abortions And Parental Notification According to City & State NY, "Up until at least Aug. 31, a page on LaLota’s website titled ‘Protecting Life’ focused on support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade and called for New York to ban third trimester abortions and institute stricter parental notification requirements for minors." [City & State NY, 9/29/22]
2024: New York Times Editorial Board Noted Nick LaLota Voted to Block Pentagon Abortion Access Policy According to an editorial published in New York Times, "In another example, he voted to block the Pentagon from carrying out a policy to help service members get access to abortion services and other forms of reproductive care. Support for abortion rights is strong on Long Island." [Editorial - New York Times, 8/17/24]
2024: Newsday Editorial Board Stated Nick LaLota Supported State Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks According to an editorial published in Newsday, "LaLota supports a state ban on abortion after 12 weeks, albeit with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. This is out of step with the majority view in his district." [Editorial - Newsday (New York), 10/24/24]
2023: Republican Study Committee, Including Nick LaLota, Endorsed Budget With Federal Abortion Limits According to City & State, "Williams is also a member of the Republican Study Committee along with fellow freshman Rep. Nick LaLota of Long Island. [...] the Republican Study Committee released a budget proposal endorsed by its members that included a number of bills limiting abortion at the federal level, including an outright ban from the moment of conception, a ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill that would make abortions illegal after six weeks, and a 15-week abortion ban." [City & State, 7/24/23]
2023: Nick LaLota Did Not Sponsor Federal Abortion-Limiting Bills But Endorsed Committee Proposals According to City & State (New York), "Although neither Williams nor LaLota are personally co-sponsors of these pieces of legislation, the Republican Study Committee released a budget proposal endorsed by its members that included a number of bills limiting abortion at the federal level, including an outright ban from the moment of conception, a 'fetal heartbeat' bill that would make abortions illegal after six weeks, and a 15-week abortion ban." [City & State (New York), 7/24/23]
2022: Nick LaLota Praised The Repeal Of Roe v. Wade And Supported New York Prohibiting Late-Term Abortions According to City & State, "LaLota applauded the repeal of Roe v. Wade and advocates for New York to prohibit late-term abortions." [City & State, 8/11/22]
LaLota Previously Called Overturning Roe v. Wade a 'Step in the Right Direction,' but Removed the Statement According to Newsday, "Avlon, who said he supports reproductive freedoms, criticized LaLota for calling the overturning of Roe v. Wade a 'step in the right direction.' LaLota had made the statement on his website but has since taken it down." [Newsday (New York), 10/22/24]