The 1st district is located in eastern Long Island and includes most of central and eastern Suffolk County. The incumbent was Republican Lee Zeldin, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2014 with 53% of the vote, defeating Democratic incumbent Tim Bishop. The district had a PVI of R+2.
The 2nd district is based along the South Shore of Long Island and includes southwestern Suffolk County and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County. The incumbent was Republican Peter T. King, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 3rd district from 1993 to 2013. He was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2014 and the district has a PVI of R+1.
The 3rd district is based along the north shore of Long Island and includes portions of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The incumbent, Democrat Steve Israel, had represented northern Long Island since 2000 (as the 2nd district from 2000 to 2012 and the 3rd district since then) and announced he would not seek re-election on January 5, 2016.[21]
The 4th district was located in central and southern Nassau County. Incumbent Democrat Kathleen Rice, who had represented the district since 2014, ran for re-election. She was elected with 51% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+3.
The 5th district is mostly located entirely within Queens in New York City, but also includes a small portion of Nassau County. The incumbent was Democrat Gregory Meeks, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 6th district from 1998 to 2013. He was re-elected in 2012 with 90% of the vote and the district has a PVI of D+35.
The 6th district is located entirely within Queens in New York City. Incumbent Democrat Grace Meng, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. She was re-elected in 2014, winning the general election with 100% of the vote. The district had a PVI of D+13.
The 7th district is located entirely in New York City and includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Incumbent Democrat, Nydia Velázquez, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 12th district from 1993 to 2013, ran for re-election. She was re-elected in 2014 with 56% of the vote and the district has a PVI of D+34.
The 8th district is located entirely in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Incumbent Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected in 2014, winning the general election with 84% of the vote. The district had a PVI of D+35.
The 9th district is located entirely within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Incumbent Democrat Yvette Clarke, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 11th district from 2007 to 2013, ran for re-election. She was re-elected in 2014 with 89.5% of the vote and the district had a PVI of D+32.
The 10th district is located in New York City and includes the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the west side of Lower Manhattan, including Greenwich Village and the Financial District, and parts of Brooklyn, including Borough Park. The incumbent was Democrat Jerrold Nadler, who had represented the district since 2013 and previously represented the 8th district from 1993 to 2013 and the 17th district from 1992 to 1993. He was re-elected in 2014 with 82% of the vote and the district has a PVI of D+23.
The 12th district is located entirely in New York City and includes several neighborhoods in the East Side of Manhattan, Greenpoint and western Queens. The incumbent was Democrat Carolyn Maloney, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 14th district from 1993 to 2013. She was re-elected in 2014 with 84% of the vote and the district has a PVI of D+27.
The 13th district is located entirely in New York City and includes Upper Manhattan and a small portion of the western Bronx. The incumbent was Democrat Charles Rangel, who had represented the district since 2013, and previously represented the 15th district from 1993 to 2013, the 16th district from 1983 to 1993, the 19th district from 1973 to 1983 and the 18th district from 1971 to 1973. He was re-elected in 2014 with 87% of the vote and the district has a PVI of D+42.
Rangel said during the 2014 election and confirmed after his victory that he would not run for a 24th term in 2016.[38][39]
Rangel had faced strong primary challenges in previous elections and had said that he will be "involved" in picking his successor. Former state assemblyman, former city councilman and candidate for the seat in 1996 and 2010Adam Clayton Powell IV, the son of former U.S. Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr., whom Rangel unseated in the primary in 1970, ran for the seat.[40] State Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright also ran for the seat.[41]