Former representative Louise Slaughter, who had represented Rochester in Congress since 1987, died while in office in March 2018, leaving the seat vacant until that year’s general election.

State Assemblymember Joseph Morelle (Democrat)[3] faced James Maxwell (Republican, Conservative, Reform),[4] in the general election, which Morelle won handily.

Historically, most of this district was located in Upstate New York.

The district included 100 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline, the easternmost Finger Lakes, and significant portions of the Erie Canal.

In New York State electoral politics, the state allows Electoral fusion, with numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum that typically endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for an office.