1988Final results
1988 election for New York's 19th District
U.S. House · New York
Eliot L. Engel (D) won with 56.0% of the vote, defeating Mario Biaggi (R) by 28.8 points.
Eliot L. EngelDemocrat · winner
56.0%77,158
Mario BiaggiRepublican
27.2%37,454
Martin J. O'GradyRight to Life
8.2%11,271
Robert BlumettiConservative
8.1%11,182
Michael ZagarellIndependent
0.5%678
137,743 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1988
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Eliot L. EngelMario Biaggi
$255.6K
Raised by the campaign
$152.5K
$256.5K
Spent by the campaign
$468.6K
$1.9K
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988; FEC, through Dec 12, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988
The candidates
Eliot L. Engel (D)Mario Biaggi (R)Martin J. O'Grady (RTL)Robert Blumetti (C)
Also on the ballot: Michael Zagarell (Independent), 0.5%