Rep. Laura Gillen has won re-election to New York's 4th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Jeanine Driscoll by more than 16 percentage points. The victory by Gillen, a Democrat, is considered crucial in the national effort to determine which party will hold the majority in the House of Representatives.
Gillen secured 57.9% of the vote to Driscoll's 41.8%. "In this election, Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together to choose common sense over chaos," Gillen stated on election night. She added, "We're going to flip the House and it looks like we're going to flip the Senate."
The NY-4 race was closely watched as a potential indicator of the broader midterm election outcomes. The district has a history of shifting party control, with Democrats holding it for extended periods before Republican Anthony D'Esposito won the seat in 2022. Gillen successfully flipped the district back to Democratic control in 2024.
D'Esposito, who had defeated Gillen in 2022, did not seek re-election this cycle, taking a position as inspector general for the Department of Labor under President Trump. Republicans ultimately nominated Driscoll, the Town of Hempstead receiver of taxes. Despite her platform as a "tax fighter" and endorsements from prominent Republicans, Driscoll was significantly outspent by Gillen, with fundraising reports indicating Gillen raised approximately $6 million compared to Driscoll's $684,000.
Gillen's campaign focused on her record of securing federal funding for Long Island and addressing cost of living issues. She also advocated for the repeal of the SALT cap, supported Obamacare tax credits, and emphasized the protection of abortion access, while distinguishing herself from more progressive factions within the Democratic party.
Before her congressional tenure, Gillen served as the supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, making history as the first Democrat elected to the position in over a century in 2017. She lost her re-election bid in 2020. Gillen, a native of Long Island and a graduate of Georgetown University and NYU Law School, will begin her second term in Congress on January 3.