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(Hempstead, NY) – Democratic leaders and strategists had their eyes on Long Island to potentially flip some seats in the House. On the island, two seats in particular were targets for Democratic hopefuls: New York’s First and Fourth congressional districts. The fourth represents the Town of Hempstead and a large section of Nassau County’s South Shore. The First district represents Eastern Suffolk County including Montauk and The Hamptons.
In the Fourth, incumbent Republican Anthony D’Esposito lost his seat to former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen. The election was a rematch of the 2022 race when D’Esposito flipped the district red. With 98 percent of the district totals counted, Gillen won by a razor thin margin of 50.86 to 49.14 percent.
Out east in the First, former CNN journalist and Democratic challenger, John Avlon, failed to oust Republican Congressman Nick Lalota. Lalota won that race by 11 points for his second term in office. Lalota took over the seat after former Representative Lee Zeldin decided to run for Governor.
