Israel's Lead Grows Over Labate in 3rd Congressional District Race

Incumbent Steve Israel is pulling away from Republican Steve Labate in the 3rd Congressional District race.

With the majority of the precincts reporting in Suffolk and about 70 percent reporting in Nassau, Israel, D-Dix Hills, was leading Labate by about 20,000 votes in unofficial returns. Queens results were not immediately available.

Israel, 54, has served the Second Congressional District since 2001. He's running for his seventh term in the newly reconstituted Third District, which includes Commack, Huntington and Dix Hills and new communities from Whitestone and Douglaston in Queens to Great Neck, Port Washington and Glen Cove.

Labate, of Deer Park, is a financial planner and a military veteran. He currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. Labate has been called to active service three times since the attacks of Sept.11, including a lengthy deployment to Iraq.

Check back for more results as they become available.