Anthony D'Esposito

Anthony D'Esposito (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing New York's 4th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.

D'Esposito (Republican Party, Conservative Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 4th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. The Republican and Conservative Party primaries for this office on June 25, 2024, were canceled.

Biography

Anthony D'Esposito graduated from Chaminade High School in 2000. D'Esposito earned a B.A. in English language and literature from Hofstra University in 2004. His career experience includes working as a detective with the New York City Police Department and the chief of the Island Park Fire Department. D'Esposito has served on the board of directors of the Francis X. Pendl Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center and of the Limb Kind Foundation.^[1]^[2]

2024 battleground election

See also: New York's 4th Congressional District election, 2024

Ballotpedia identified the November 5 general election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.

Incumbent Anthony D'Esposito (R) and Laura Gillen (D) are running in the general election for New York's 4th Congressional District on November 5, 2024.

This race is a rematch of 2022, when D'Esposito defeated Gillen 51.8%-48.2%. D'Esposito is one of 14 Republicans to win in a district that President Joe Biden (D) won in 2020. University of Virginia Center for Politics analyst Kyle Kondik said: “You could argue that just because of the makeup of the district that that’s the best Democratic House target in the whole country.”^[3]

D'Esposito is the first Republican to represent the 4th District since 1997.^[4] Before entering Congress, D'Esposito was a member of the Hempstead Town Council from 2016 to 2023. He earned his bachelor's degree in English from Hofstra University in 2004. Previously, D'Esposito was a detective for the New York Police Department.^[5]

Gillen graduated from Georgetown University and later earned a degree from New York University's School of Law. She was the Hempstead Town Supervisor from 2018 to 2020.^[6] She has worked as an attorney and as an adjunct law professor at Hofstra University.^[7]

D'Esposito said he's running for re-election "...in order to continue fighting for commonsense Long Island values in Congress and to ensure our district remains represented by someone focused on advancing the interests of Nassau County neighbors, and NOT the regressive policies of Washington progressives."^[8] He said that voters supported him because they saw him as more moderate compared to Democrats: "Many people feel the Democrats in New York have gone too far to the left. They’ve seen the implementation of cashless bail. They’ve seen the state legislature really try to change suburban communities into what we see in the five boroughs... Voters see someone like me as a person with common sense."^[9]

In an interview, Gillen said: “Long island's congressional delegation had a long tradition of bipartisan representation where voices on both sides collectively advocated for residents from Atlantic beach to Montauk. We need to reclaim that tradition to ensure our concerns are addressed no matter the political landscape.”^[10] Gillen has criticized D'Esposito as more focused on partisan votes, rather than working for the district. In a post on X, Gillen said: "Anthony D'Esposito puts partisan pandering and grandstanding over results. In Congress, I'll spend my time working to solve problems to deliver for NY-04 and the American people."^[11]

Hofstra University professor Lawrence Levy said the withdrawal of Joe Biden (D) and the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris (D) could help Gillen's chances: "Harris ascending to the top of the ticket helps the Democrats across the board with younger voters who were looking for an alternative... with Asian voters who have been leaning towards the Republicans... with Black voters in particular. And I think that's the one that gives Democrats on Long Island, particularly in the fourth district now held by Anthony D’Esposito (R), some hope."^[12] To read more about Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, click here

Republicans have pointed to recent wins the party has had on Long Island as a sign they can win again in a presidential year. Suffolk GOP chair Jesse Garcia said: “People are responding to the campaign operations, to the candidates, to this committee’s hard work on giving Republicans a chance... They see what’s going on in Albany, in D.C. under one party rule and they are rejecting that, and we’re giving them the tools and candidates to reject those policies.”^[13] D'Esposito said: “Not only are we winning, but we’re winning in places that have historically been Democrat. That momentum is continuing. The pendulum is continuing to swing.”^[14]

According to the most recent financial reports, D'Esposito had raised $3.3 million and spent $1.2 million, while Gillen raised $3.2 million and spent $730,410. To see more campaign finance data, click here.

New York conducted redistricting between the 2022 and 2024 elections. As a result, district lines in this state changed. To review how redistricting took place in New York and to see maps of the new districts, click here. For a list of all states that drew new district lines between 2022 and 2024, click here.

New York's 4th Congressional District is one of 34 congressional districts with a Republican incumbent or an open seat the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is targeting in 2024. To read about DCCC targeting initiatives, click here. For a complete list of DCCC targeted districts, click here.

As of September 4, 2024, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Decision Desk HQ and The Hill, and Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales each rated the general election Toss-up and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Lean Democratic.

All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Republicans have a 220 to 211 majority with four vacancies.^[15] As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. ^[16]

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2023-2024

D'Esposito was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

Vote

Bill and description

Status

Yea

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 22, 2023, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to pass the bill as amended by a Senate and House conference report.^[17]

Passed (310-118)

Yea

To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.

H.R. 185 (To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to nullify a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order restricting the entry of foreign citizens to the United States unless the individual was vaccinated against the coronavirus or attested they would take public health measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[18]

Passed (227-201)

Yea

Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to raise the federal debt limit before a June 5, 2023, deadline. The bill also sought to repeal certain green energy tax credits, increase domestic natural gas and oil production, expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and nullify President Joe Biden's (D) proposed student loan debt cancellation program. This bill was not taken up in the Senate, and the debt limit was instead raised through the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[19]

Passed (217-215)

Yea

Denouncing the horrors of socialism.

H.Con.Res. 9 (Denouncing the horrors of socialism.) was a resolution approved by the House of Representatives denouncing socialism and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[20]

Passed (328-86)

Yea

Lower Energy Costs Act

The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to increase domestic energy production and exports by increasing the production of oil, natural gas, and coal, reducing permitting restrictions for pipelines, refineries, and other energy projects, and increase the production of minerals used in electronics, among other energy production-related policies. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[21]

Passed (225-204)

Yea

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".

H.J.Res. 30 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and vetoed by President Joe Biden (D) on March 20, 2023. This was Biden's first veto of his presidency. The resolution sought to nullify a Department of Labor rule that amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow retirement plans to consider certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment-related decisions. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[22] Click here to read more.

Passed (219-200)

Yea

Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.

H.J.Res. 7 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 10, 2023. The resolution ended the national coronavirus state of emergency, which began on March 13, 2020. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[23] Click here to read more.

Passed (229-197)

Yea

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 3, 2023. The bill raised the federal debt limit until January 2025. The bill also capped non-defense spending in fiscal year 2024, rescinded unspent coronavirus relief funding, rescinded some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, enhanced work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), simplified environmental reviews for energy projects, and ended the student loan debt repayment pause in August 2023. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[24] Click here to read more.

Passed (314-117)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

Speaker of the House election (January 2023) - 15th vote

In January 2023, the House of Representatives held its regular election for Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th Congress. Voting began on January 3, and ended on January 7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House in a 216-212 vote during the 15th round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[25] Click here to read more.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (216-212)

Nay

Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.

H.Res. 757 (Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[26] Click here to read more.

Passed (216-210)

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.)

Speaker of the House election (October 2023) - 4th vote

In October 2023, following Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) removal as Speaker of the House, the House of Representatives held another election for the position. Voting began on October 17 and ended on October 25. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected Speaker of the House in a 220-209 vote in the fourth round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[27] Click here to read more.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (220-209)

Yea

Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

H.Res. 918 (Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that formally authorized an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (D). The inquiry focused on allegations that Biden used his influence as vice president from 2009 to 2017 to improperly profit from his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[28] Click here to read more.

Passed (221-212)

Yea

Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.

H.Res. 878 (Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from office following a House Ethics Committee investigation that determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated the law during his 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[29]

Passed (311-114)

Elections

2024

New York's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Democratic primary)

New York's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Republican primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. House New York District 4

Incumbent Anthony D'Esposito and Laura Gillen are running in the general election for U.S. House New York District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Anthony D'Esposito (R / Conservative Party)
		Laura Gillen (D / Common Sense Party)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Laura Gillen advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 4.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Anthony D'Esposito advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 4.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Anthony D'Esposito advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 4.

Endorsements

D'Esposito received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

Former President Donald Trump (Republican Party, Conservative Party)