D'Esposito at southern border; Where is Gillen?

The race for the Congressional Fourth District seat is off and running, at least on the Republican side.

Republican candidate Anthony D'Esposito, who was able to sit on the sidelines over the past six months and watch Democrats battle each other for their party's nomination, was at the southern border in Texas two days after Democrat Laura Gillen won last week's party primary.

The border is a top issue among Republicans who object to the hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing illegally into the United States. Democrats outside of border states didn't pay much attention to the issue until Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbot began busing migrants that entered his state into New York City.

D'Esposito, a Hempstead Town Councilman and retired NYC police detective, put out a photo and press release today to show he's in it to win it.

Anthony D'Esposito at a portion of the border wall in Texas

“The United States is on the wrong track thanks to President Biden’s surrender to the far-left, open
border proponents currently driving the policymaking process in the Democrat controlled Congress,” said D’Esposito in the press release. “In Congress, I pledge to restore order to our southern border region, stop the Democrats’disastrous open-door policies, and empower America’s brave law enforcement professionals who worktirelessly to prevent criminals and their harmful contraband from flowing into our country.”

Gillen, a lawyer and former Hempstead Town Supervisor, seems to have taken a breather after her race against three other Democrats.

Laura Gillen

Haven't seen much from her in the past week.

In the last video dated July 12 on her Gillen for Congress Facebook page, she says, "As the first Democratic supervisor in more than 100 years, I took on Republican-machine politicians and never backed down."

Don't know how much Gillen had left in her campaign bank account after the primary. 

By Aug. 3, she had raised a total $630,500 in contributions, spent $462,715 to win the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) and had $165,875 in cash to spend with three weeks to go til the primary.

In comparison, D'Esposito by Aug. 3 had raised 641,854, spent $96,433 and had $545,416 in cash to spend.

It's likely Gillen won't stay quiet for long. D'Esposito and Gillen fought each other on the town board and its likely they will simply continue their hostilities on the campaign trail.

D'Esposito walked out when Gillen was given a standing ovation at the end of her last town board meeting in 2019, after she was defeated by Republican Don Clavin. 

D'Esposito explained afterward that Gillen "made personal attacks" on his families and other town employee families. Gillen's then spokesman said he didn't know what D'Esposito was talking about and then pointed out that D'Esposito "voted to give his mom a raise" when she worked for the town.

D'Esposito news release:

                                                                                          





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