NY-04: Abortion rights battle in House race makes Long Island 'the center of the world'

First-term Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and Democratic challenger Laura Gillen agree on one thing: Control of the U.S. House of Representatives runs through their Long Island district.

Republicans know that re-electing D’Esposito will help them retain their narrow control of Congress, while Democrats see Gillen as one of their best chances to flip a seat from red to blue. Both parties have sent heavyweights to the southern half of Nassau County, hoping a victory in the House will propel their party’s agenda through Congress — and turning Long Island’s 4th District into a microcosm of national fights over reproductive and transgender rights.

On the national level, Democrats are running on their commitment to restoring reproductive health care access, and on the threat that Republicans will further limit it if they win. In the 4th Congressional District in New York, polls show a majority of voters support abortion rights.

D’Esposito says he’s a champion of women, promising in an ad that he will never "ever" vote for a national abortion ban, while Gillen argues that his support for Republican Party leadership suggests otherwise. The issue itself is on the ballot in the form of Proposition 1, which would enshrine abortion rights and anti-discrimination protections in the state constitution — and has invigorated a fierce debate along party lines.




https://gothamist.com/news/laura-gillen-anthony-desposito-abortion-new-york