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By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
A congressional race in Long Island has heated up to become one of the closest in the state, with potential consequences beyond November. As reported by the NY Post, both Democrats and Republicans are eying this race for wider ramifications—including the presidential election.
The election battle for New York’s Fourth Congressional District is a rematch between first-term Republican Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen. Local Democrats see the race as a path to regaining their speed, following disappointments in three consecutive election cycles. For its part, the GOP is looking for a victory that would solidify its mastery over the area, turning the district into reliably red. Two years ago, D’Esposito unseated Gillen in congress for the fourth district, beating her by over 10,000 votes in 2022.
Many saw it as backlash against Democrats for the state legislature’s infamous criminal justice reforms. It was the first time after more than 20 years that Republicans gained control in the district. More importantly, it was also one of several elections that gave Republicans a narrow majority in the House. The district had elected Biden, now 81, to the presidency in 2020, with a lead of about 10 percentage points.
An internal campaign poll by McLaughlin Associates conducted in mid-August said that the for the upcoming rematch D’Esposito is up by 6 percentage points, leading 48% to 42% in the district, which includes central and southern Nassau County. It is the second-wealthiest congressional district in the state. About 40% of the district’s voters are registered as Democrats, while 30% are registered Republicans and another 30% are registered as independents. Jewish residents make up some 20% of the electorate, including a growing number of orthodox residents in the Five towns which are expected to vote Republican, as per the NY Post.
“Laura Gillen has been rejected twice. She will be rejected a third time,” D’Esposito said of his opponent, who first lost her 2019 re-election bid. For her part, Gillen is doing her best to distance herself from liberal policies, saying she’s campaigning as an “independent,” pro-safety Democrat. She says she is condemning the controversial state bail reform law that has blocked judges from setting cash bail for numerous crimes. She also said she supports tougher border security. “We need to seal our border. [D’Esposito] failed to get this done,” she said.
Congressman D’Esposito bashed Gillen for her support of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who he called “the two people who created the disaster at the border.” He also has said he supports policies to deport migrants who crossed the borders illegally, especially those who commit crimes.
Another popular topic, especially for Democrats, will be abortion rights. Per the Post, Gillen, like many other Democrats in this year’s elections, says she will protect women’s rights to have an abortion. She has criticized her opponent for allegedly shifting on the issue. “I have consistently been an advocate for reproductive rights,” she said. D’Esposito shot back saying, “I would never support a nationwide abortion ban. I never have and never will.” He added that he supports in-vitro fertilization, and he called Gillen’s abortion push, “her whole campaign.”
