The close contest between Republican Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen is seen as a significant battle for both parties. With the Democrats hoping to recover their political standing on Long Island after losing three consecutive election cycles, and Republicans seeking a victory that would indicate the area’s shift towards more conservative ideals, this rematch holds considerable importance beyond November.
The 4th District in Nassau County includes portions of Hempstead, Valley Stream, Uniondale, and Freeport. The electorate is made up of 40% registered Democrats, 30% Republicans, and 30% independents. Furthermore, Jewish residents account for around 20% of the electorate, with a growing number of Orthodox residents in the 5 towns that are increasingly voting Republican.
Gillen, who was the first Democrat to hold her seat in over a century, is campaigning as an “independent” pro-safety Democrat, condemning state laws that blocked judges from setting cash bail for certain crimes and advocating for stronger border security. D’Esposito, on the other hand, supports policies to deport migrants who entered the country illegally, especially those committing crimes. He has criticized Gillen for her support of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who he calls “the two people who created the disaster at the border.
The candidates have also taken opposing stances on reproductive rights, with Gillen accusing D’Esposito of shifting positions while the congressman maintains that he would never support a nationwide abortion ban. As part of her campaign strategy, Gillen is pledging to protect abortion rights in light of the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The race has seen President Biden carrying the district over Trump 55% to 45% in 2020 but trailing him by 7 percentage points in a previous internal campaign poll from June. Since then, however, Vice President Kamala Harris has managed to close this gap considerably. With Democratic nominee Harris potentially being a “wild card” factor due to her strong support among the sizable black population in the district, the outcome of this rematch is far from certain and may have significant implications for both parties beyond November’s election day.
