This is the 1996 race. The latest: 2026 →

1996Final results

1996 election for New York's 17th District

U.S. House · New York

Eliot L. Engel (D) won with 85.0% of the vote, defeating Denis McCarthy (R) by 71.6 points.

Eliot L. EngelDemocrat · winner
85.0%101,287
Denis McCarthyRepublican
13.3%15,892
Dennis ColemanIndependent
1.7%2,008
119,187 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 1996

Races before and after

EvenD+55.21990D+66.61992D+47.41994D+71.61996D+76.01998D+79.42000

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. EngelNo Republican
$411.8K
Raised by the campaign
—
$374.1K
Spent by the campaign
—
$45.2K
Cash on hand
—

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996

The candidates

Eliot L. Engel (D)Denis McCarthy (R)

Also on the ballot: Dennis Coleman (Independent), 1.7%