2002Final results
2002 election for New York's 17th District
U.S. House · New York
Eliot L. Engel (D) won with 62.6% of the vote, defeating C. Scott Vanderhoef (R) by 28.2 points.
Eliot L. EngelDemocrat · winner
62.6%77,535
C. Scott VanderhoefRepublican
34.4%42,634
Arthur L. GallagherRight to Life
1.6%1,931
Elizabeth ShanklinGreen
1.4%1,743
123,843 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 2002
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. EngelC. Scott Vanderhoef
$1.2M
Raised by the campaign
$209.3K
$1.3M
Spent by the campaign
$196.7K
$110.3K
Cash on hand
$12.6K
Other candidates' campaigns: Elizabeth Shanklin $11.5K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2002.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2002
The candidates
Eliot L. Engel (D)C. Scott Vanderhoef (R)
Also on the ballot: Arthur L. Gallagher (Right to Life), 1.6%; Elizabeth Shanklin (Green), 1.4%