D’Esposito vs. Gillen: NY Dems Bet on Kamala Harris & "Equal Rights Amendment"

The combination of a statewide ballot referendum for an “Equal Rights Amendment” and Democrats’ switch from President Joe Biden to the more energizing Vice President Kamala Harris may lift fellow Democratic candidates across New York – including in Nassau County for the rematch between freshman U.S. Representative Anthony D’Esposito (R) and former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen (D) in the 4th Congressional District.

“As of the July filings, Gillen has more money on hand than D’Esposito, according to recently filed federal campaign records which showed Gillen with $2.5 million and D’Esposito with $2.2 million in the bank,” reported Newsday. It is unusual for a challenger to outraise the incumbent, and this is not the case for any other Republicans or Democrats in the Long Island and Queens congressional delegation.

“Lawrence Levy, the executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, said Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket has given Gillen newfound hope. ‘One of the reasons that Anthony D’Esposito was able to beat Laura Gillen with such a large enrollment edge was that Black voters pretty much sat it out,’ Levy said of the 2022 election. He expects Harris may energize those voters to head to the polls,” reported POLITICO.

“Gillen opened one of the first state party offices in Hempstead on July 20 with U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-South Queens), the chair of the Queens Democratic Party, and the area’s Assembly candidate, Noah Burroughs, and State Senate candidate Siela Bynoe,” reported Newsday.