Emily’s List, a political action committee that works to elect pro-choice female Democratic candidates to office, has endorsed Nancy Goroff, a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Representative Lee Zeldin in New York’s First Congressional District next year. Ms. Goroff, a professor and chairwoman of Stony Brook University’s chemistry department, announced her candidacy in July.

“Nancy Goroff is running for Congress to be a champion for Long Island families,” Stephanie Schriock, the president of Emily’s List, said in a statement issued on Monday. “An educator for over two decades, Nancy’s background in science will enable her to bring an expertise to issues including climate change and creating jobs for the future. She is dedicated to fighting for affordable, quality health care for everyone in Suffolk County and will ensure we protect a woman’s right to choose.”

“I’m honored and excited to receive the endorsement from Emily’s List,” Ms. Goroff, who would be the first female Ph.D. scientist elected to Congress, said in the same statement. “This endorsement is a strong show of confidence in our campaign by one of the country’s most trusted voices on Democratic candidates. As an educator and scientist, running against a Republican extremist who doesn’t believe in facts, I’m proud that our campaign continues to gain strength and momentum.”

Ms. Schriock said Mr. Zeldin is “one of the most vulnerable Republicans, and we have no doubt that Nancy will run a strong campaign to win this seat.”

Ms. Goroff has a challenger, however. Perry Gershon, the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2018, lost narrowly to Mr. Zeldin, by 51 to 47 percent, last November, and the East Hampton resident is campaigning for the nomination to face the congressman again next year.