ELMONT, NY – Last month, Democrat Laura Gillen secured her victory over incumbent Republican Anthony D’Esposito in New York’s 4th Congressional District, marking a significant shift in this highly competitive Long Island seat.
This contest was a rematch of the 2022 election, where D’Esposito had previously defeated Gillen by approximately 10,000 votes. The district, encompassing parts of Nassau County, had been won by President Joe Biden by a 15-point margin in 2020, indicating its swing nature.
The 2024 campaign was marked by intense and partisan television advertisements. D’Esposito’s campaign portrayed Gillen as lenient on crime and criticized Democratic immigration policies, attributing them to an increase in migrant arrivals. Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, countered these claims, advocating for enhanced law enforcement and strengthened border security.
In the final weeks leading up to the election, D’Esposito faced allegations reported by The New York Times, suggesting potential violations of House ethics rules. The report alleged that he had employed his fiancée’s daughter and a woman with whom he purportedly had an affair in his district office, raising questions about his adherence to ethical standards.
Although D’Esposito, a retired New York City Police Department detective, denied any wrongdoing and no formal investigation was initiated by the House Ethics Committee, the controversy may have influenced voter sentiment in the closing stages of the campaign.
Gillen’s victory contributes to a series of Democratic gains in New York, where the party has flipped multiple House seats, partially offsetting previous Republican advances in the state. This win is particularly significant as it enhances Democratic prospects in the House of Representatives, where control remains highly competitive.
As Gillen prepares to assume office, she has expressed intentions to pursue a bipartisan approach, aiming to collaborate across party lines to effectively represent the diverse interests of her constituents in Nassau County.
