In 2022, Republicans’ path to the House majority ran through diverse suburban seats in California and New York, where minority turnout stagnated and strong recruits helped the GOP appeal to fiscally-focused independents. This cycle, House Democrats’ path back to power runs through those very same seats — only now, they have to convince voters their new Republican representatives aren’t the moderate dealmakers they claim to be.
That game of reputational tug-of-war is playing out in primetime on Long Island, where Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is locked in a tight rematch with former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen. D’Esposito, a retired New York City Police Department detective and former Hempstead town councilman, looks the part for this bedroom community seat but holds the dubious distinction of being the GOP incumbent running for reelection on the least friendly terrain. Two years ago, he defeated Gillen 52%-48% despite New York’s 4th District having opted for President Joe Biden by 14 points in 2020.
D’Esposito allies insist that the congressman’s gravity-defying 2022 performance was a product of his unique personal appeal in a part
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.