Morelle re-elected. Here's what could await in the next Congress
By Brian Sharp
November 3, 2026 at 9:48 PM EST
U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle was elected to a fifth term Tuesday, and will return to a Democratic majority in Congress.
"Now the hard work begins to restore trust for the American people that people in government are looking out for their interests," Morelle said. "And we're going to get to that work immediately."
Morelle defeated Republican challenger Virginia McIntyre, vastly outspending the Monroe County legislator and taking 62% of the vote in the Democrat-leaning district, according to unofficial tallies from the state Board of Elections. The district covers Monroe and extends into Ontario County.
In the nearby 24th District, which surrounds Monroe County, voters backed Republican Claudia Tenney's re-election bid by a slightly smaller margin over Democratic challenger Alissa Ellman.
Morelle's comments about next steps alluded to his expected role in the next Congress, championing a package of anti-corruption bills he helped to pen that could be the first legislation Democrats put forward. The Associated Press called the House majority for Democrats after 1 a.m. Wednesday, and called the Senate earlier in the night.
Rep. Joe Morelle celebrates his re-election to New York's 25th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 during the Democratic Party's election night watch party at the Hyatt Regency Rochester in Rochester, New York. (5253x3878, AR: 1.3545642083548222)
"If I'm blessed to have the chairmanship of the committee on House Administration, which looks tonight like that's likely, I'm going to work on putting an end to stock trading for members of Congress and people in the administration and the Supreme Court," the Irondequoit lawmaker said. "I'm going to put an end to people participating in the prediction markets. I'm going to put an end to dark money and make sure people are disclosing the influence of billionaires in our politics, and make sure that we reform campaign finance."
Morelle's campaign disbursements topped $2.1 million, including transfers to other candidate committees, and he had $468,000 cash on hand as of mid-October, according to federal campaign finance records. McIntyre's outlay was $66,000 — with her last financial disclosure showing her campaign nearly $11,000 in the red.
"I just would have liked it to have been tighter to really drive it home that you don't need that money and that power in order to run," McIntyre said. "You know, I think that we need fresh blood. We need fresh voices in there, and I want to make sure that they're not dissuaded from seeing the results tonight."
Virginia McIntyre, candidate for New York's 25th Congressional District, speaks on election night as Monroe County Republicans await results of the midterms on Nov. 3, 2026 at the Irondequoit Country Club. (4017x2683, AR: 1.4972046216921358)
The little-known House Administration committee Morelle is poised to lead oversees The Smithsonian and daily House operations, including food service and member parking. But it also is tasked with security at the U.S. Capitol and federal election policy, ensuring free and fair elections.
"It is suddenly a committee that is on the frontline of two very important battles," said Gerald Gamm, political science and history professor at the University of Rochester. Yet the committee is little studied because "these are issues we didn't expect to see in the 21st century."
Heading into the election, Morelle spent about 40% of his time game-planning an election counteroffensive to what the Democrats feared would be a Trump administration effort to contest and undermine the midterm results. It was a charge House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had tasked him with months ago.
Going forward, aides expect that committee is where any investigations of election interference would begin. And it would be through that committee that the party expects to introduce the comprehensive, anti-corruption agenda — which aides said also tackles Supreme Court term limits.
It's another measure Morelle spearheaded at Jeffries' request.
Jeffries and Morelle worked together for years in the New York state Assembly before being elected to federal office. Now Jeffries could become the next House Speaker. And New York's predominately Democrat delegation — effectively silenced the past two years — will again find its voice.
Includes reporting by staff writer Jose Sandoval and executive producer Veronica Volk.
"Now the hard work begins to restore trust for the American people that people in government are looking out for their interests," Morelle said. "And we're going to get to that work immediately."
Morelle defeated Republican challenger Virginia McIntyre, vastly outspending the Monroe County legislator and taking 62% of the vote in the Democrat-leaning district, according to unofficial tallies from the state Board of Elections. The district covers Monroe and extends into Ontario County.
In the nearby 24th District, which surrounds Monroe County, voters backed Republican Claudia Tenney's re-election bid by a slightly smaller margin over Democratic challenger Alissa Ellman.
Morelle's comments about next steps alluded to his expected role in the next Congress, championing a package of anti-corruption bills he helped to pen that could be the first legislation Democrats put forward. The Associated Press called the House majority for Democrats after 1 a.m. Wednesday, and called the Senate earlier in the night.
Rep. Joe Morelle celebrates his re-election to New York's 25th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 during the Democratic Party's election night watch party at the Hyatt Regency Rochester in Rochester, New York. (5253x3878, AR: 1.3545642083548222)
"If I'm blessed to have the chairmanship of the committee on House Administration, which looks tonight like that's likely, I'm going to work on putting an end to stock trading for members of Congress and people in the administration and the Supreme Court," the Irondequoit lawmaker said. "I'm going to put an end to people participating in the prediction markets. I'm going to put an end to dark money and make sure people are disclosing the influence of billionaires in our politics, and make sure that we reform campaign finance."
Morelle's campaign disbursements topped $2.1 million, including transfers to other candidate committees, and he had $468,000 cash on hand as of mid-October, according to federal campaign finance records. McIntyre's outlay was $66,000 — with her last financial disclosure showing her campaign nearly $11,000 in the red.
"I just would have liked it to have been tighter to really drive it home that you don't need that money and that power in order to run," McIntyre said. "You know, I think that we need fresh blood. We need fresh voices in there, and I want to make sure that they're not dissuaded from seeing the results tonight."
Virginia McIntyre, candidate for New York's 25th Congressional District, speaks on election night as Monroe County Republicans await results of the midterms on Nov. 3, 2026 at the Irondequoit Country Club. (4017x2683, AR: 1.4972046216921358)
The little-known House Administration committee Morelle is poised to lead oversees The Smithsonian and daily House operations, including food service and member parking. But it also is tasked with security at the U.S. Capitol and federal election policy, ensuring free and fair elections.
"It is suddenly a committee that is on the frontline of two very important battles," said Gerald Gamm, political science and history professor at the University of Rochester. Yet the committee is little studied because "these are issues we didn't expect to see in the 21st century."
Heading into the election, Morelle spent about 40% of his time game-planning an election counteroffensive to what the Democrats feared would be a Trump administration effort to contest and undermine the midterm results. It was a charge House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had tasked him with months ago.
Going forward, aides expect that committee is where any investigations of election interference would begin. And it would be through that committee that the party expects to introduce the comprehensive, anti-corruption agenda — which aides said also tackles Supreme Court term limits.
It's another measure Morelle spearheaded at Jeffries' request.
Jeffries and Morelle worked together for years in the New York state Assembly before being elected to federal office. Now Jeffries could become the next House Speaker. And New York's predominately Democrat delegation — effectively silenced the past two years — will again find its voice.
Includes reporting by staff writer Jose Sandoval and executive producer Veronica Volk.