Patrick
Halpin
Patrick Halpin, Democrat and former Suffolk County Executive, is challenging incumbent Rep. Andrew Garbarino in NY-02 in 2026.
- sources
- 13
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 3
Background
Patrick "Pat" Halpin is a Democrat from Long Island's South Shore running for New York's 2nd Congressional District in the November 2026 election. He grew up in West Babylon, NY, graduated from West Babylon High School in 1971, and earned a B.A. in political science from Old Dominion University in 1975. 6
Halpin has a long history in Suffolk County politics. He worked as a campaign manager for Congressman Thomas J. Downey in 1976 and later served as a congressional aide before entering elected office. He served in the Suffolk County Legislature (1979–1982), the New York State Assembly (1983–1987), and was elected Suffolk County Executive in 1987, serving four years. [2, 6]
As of his 2026 congressional campaign, Halpin serves as Chair of the Town of Babylon Planning Board. He has also previously been identified as Suffolk County Water Authority chairman and as managing director at Mercury Public Affairs' New York office. [2, 13]
Halpin is challenging sitting U.S. Representative Andrew Garbarino and is running on both the Democratic and Working Families party lines. [5, 8]
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 2, New York
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Chair, Town of Babylon Planning Board
- Website
- halpinforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 11newsHalpin scheduled for News 12 Power & Politics interview the following week
News 12 reported that Halpin was due in its studio the week after October 11 for an interview segment on Power & Politics, following the collapse of debate arrangements in the NY-02 race.
Power & Politics: Suffolk town supervisors push for change in tax cap calculation; Vote 2026 debates; Flock camera fallout · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8endorsementNewsday editorial board endorses incumbent Garbarino over Halpin in NY-02
Newsday's editorial board endorsed Rep. Andrew Garbarino. The board described Halpin's proposals as including federal tax incentives to redevelop aging malls for housing, adding all salaried income to Social Security taxes, and advocating for offshore wind development.
Andrew Garbarino for New York's 2nd Congressional District · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7debateHalpin agreed to debate; Garbarino did not respond to invitations, no NY-02 debate held
News 12 reported that Halpin accepted debate invitations for Long Island House races, but Garbarino's campaign did not respond. With no debate arranged for NY-02, Halpin was offered an interview segment on News 12's Power & Politics instead.
Skipping debates: Why some Long Island congressional candidates are staying off the stage - NewsBreak · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsHalpin campaign states he opposes the Iran war and would vote for a war powers resolution
In an email relayed by his campaign manager, Halpin's campaign said: 'Pat is very much against the war and would vote for the war powers resolution to remove US forces.' This was a campaign statement, not a recorded congressional vote.
Patrick Halpin's campaign says he opposes the Iran war and would vote for a war powers resolution · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsHalpin criticizes Garbarino over four privately funded trips, calls travel 'an affront to voters'
Newsday reported Garbarino took four privately funded trips in 2026, including three international. Halpin called the travel 'an affront to every voter in his district,' citing rising costs for Long Islanders. Newsday also noted that Halpin had been a registered lobbyist for health and energy companies per state records.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino tied for 3rd-most trips paid for by special interests this year · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 23filingHalpin listed on sample ballots for Suffolk County on Democratic and Working Families lines
Sample ballot summaries for Suffolk County ZIP codes show Halpin appearing on the Democratic and Working Families party lines facing Garbarino on the Republican and Conservative lines.
11782 Sample Ballot: Suffolk County, NY 2026 | The Ballot Brief · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 13filingPatrick Halpin listed as Democratic candidate for NY-02 House race
Halpin appears on Battleground Vote as the Democratic candidate challenging Rep. Andrew Garbarino in New York's 2nd Congressional District for the 2026 general election.
Patrick Halpin for U.S. House 2026 | Battleground Vote · Sep 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Working Families Party organizationThe Working Families Party's 2026 New York candidates page lists Pat Halpin for U.S. House District 2. No endorsement announcement date is stated. workingfamilies.org
- Westchester-Putnam Chapter, Working Families Party organizationListed as an endorsement in iVoterGuide; affiliated with the Working Families Party. No date provided. ivoterguide.com
- Communications Workers of America (CWA), District 1 unionCWA District 1's 2026 New York endorsements page lists 'NY-2: Pat Halpin.' No publication date is stated. cwad1.org
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $462K
- Spent
- $372K
- Cash on hand
- $89K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NY02140(opens in a new tab)
Sources 13
- [1] Power & Politics: Suffolk town supervisors push for change in tax cap calculation; Vote 2026 debates; Flock camera fallout(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Andrew Garbarino for New York's 2nd Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] 2026 Endorsements: New York - CWA District 1(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [4] Skipping debates: Why some Long Island congressional candidates are staying off the stage - NewsBreak(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [5] Patrick Halpin's campaign says he opposes the Iran war and would vote for a war powers resolution(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [6] Rep. Andrew Garbarino tied for 3rd-most trips paid for by special interests this year(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [7] Voter Guide Profile for NY U.S. House, District 2 candidate - Patrick ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [8] 11782 Sample Ballot: Suffolk County, NY 2026 | The Ballot Brief(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [9] Patrick Halpin for U.S. House 2026 | Battleground Vote(opens in a new tab) Sep 13, 2026
- [10] New York - Working Families Party(opens in a new tab) Aug 11, 2026
- [11] Long Island districts could be key to which party controls U.S. ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 27, 2026
- [12] Agenda - Halpin for Congress(opens in a new tab) Feb 19, 2026
- [13] Long Island Democratic candidates introduce themselves ...(opens in a new tab) Feb 5, 2026