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
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