Laura Gillen Wins Tight Congressional Race

Laura Gillen, a Democrat, declared victory in the closely contested 4th Congressional District race, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito by a margin of less than 2%. Gillen's final tally was 182,771 votes to D’Esposito's 176,623, marking a significant political shift as Democrats swept congressional seats in Nassau County. Despite Gillen's victory, D’Esposito refused to concede, expressing hope for a different outcome as results continued to come in. Gillen, who previously lost to D’Esposito in 2022, emphasized her commitment to bipartisan cooperation and addressing local issues. The election drew significant attention, with endorsements from high-profile politicians and controversies surrounding D’Esposito's past. Additionally, Proposition 1, aimed at adding discrimination protections to the state constitution, was approved.