 Skelos was automatically disbarred in 2016 following a felony conviction.In 1980, the seat for the 19th District in the New York State Assembly, representing parts of Nassau County, became open when incumbent Assemblyman Raymond J. McGrath decided to run for the United States House of Representatives seat that was opened by the retirement of nine-term incumbent John W. Wydler.Running on the Republican, Conservative, and Right-to-Life party lines, Skelos won the general election on November 4, 1980, by defeating Democratic and Liberal party candidate Peter S. Kilcommons, Jr. by a 64% to 36% margin (30,749 to 17,371 votes).