Congress 2024: With NY House Races Key, D'Esposito vs. Gillen Rematch Takes Spotlight

"A Long Island congressional race considered one of the closest in the state may have ramifications beyond November – as local Democrats and Republicans duke it out for a message win," reported the New York Post. "The rematch election battle between first-term Republican Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen is an opportunity for Dems to get their mojo back on the island after getting trounced in three election cycles — while the GOP is looking for a victory that would prove the area is becoming reliably red... President Biden carried the district over Trump 55% to 45% in 2020 but trailed Trump by 7-percentage points in a previous internal campaign poll in June. Harris has closed that gap since Biden dropped out of the race, the poll showed."

"Now, Democrats are eying four more potential pickups in the Empire State and one across the Hudson in New Jersey, while defending Representative Pat Ryan, their only vulnerable incumbent. (Democratic strategists believe John Avlon, a former CNN commentator, has an uphill battle in his campaign to defeat Representative Nick LaLota on the exurban East End of Long Island.) Both parties agree that Representative Brandon Williams, a first-term Republican who represents Syracuse, is the most likely to lose after redistricting made his seat several points more Democratic. Republicans are also battling to try to save Representative Anthony D’Esposito, a former police officer, whose diverse Long Island district voted for Mr. Biden by 14 points," reported the New York Times. "But the remaining races are tossups. Mr. Lawler and Representative Marc Molinaro in Central New York have worked hard to build reputations as the most bipartisan members of the House. After they each eked out midterm victories by a percentage point or less, they now face a more difficult challenge asking voters who overwhelmingly dislike Mr. Trump and favor abortion rights to overlook their party affiliation."