First-term Democratic Representative Laura Gillen has been accused by her Republican opponent, Jeanine Driscoll, of falsely attributing a $42 million tax increase to her in campaign mailers. Driscoll, who serves as the Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes, stated that her administrative role involves collecting and disbursing taxes but does not grant her the authority to vote on or approve tax rates.
Driscoll asserted that Gillen's mailers, authorized by the Gillen campaign and distributed by the New York State Democratic Party, misrepresented her responsibilities. "Laura Gillen trying to blame me for tax hikes is like demanding a tax cut from the IRS administrator — I collect the bills, I don’t set the rates," Driscoll said. She added that Gillen herself voted for a tax increase.
Nassau County Republican Party chairman Joseph Cairo Jr. echoed Driscoll's claims, stating that Gillen knows Driscoll has never voted for a tax increase. Cairo accused Gillen of voting against tax relief measures, including provisions in a bill crafted by President Trump that aimed to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, while also cutting social service programs. He characterized Gillen as a "serial tax hiker" attempting to deflect from her record.
Gillen's campaign defended its messaging, with a spokesperson asserting that Driscoll was responsible for a "record-breaking tax hike" that impacted Long Islanders. The spokesperson claimed that under Driscoll's oversight, taxes in the Town of Hempstead increased by over 12%.
The political race is for New York's 4th Congressional District, a seat that has shifted between parties. The district includes Nassau County's South Shore and diverse communities. Gillen, a former Hempstead supervisor, lost the seat in 2022 but won a rematch in 2024. The Cook Political Report rates the district as leaning toward the Democratic incumbent.