“My choice to save my life so I could continue to raise my children was about more than just the right to an abortion. It was about a fundamental human right to decide what happens with my own body — a right we should preserve for all women in this country.” (NY Daily News Op-Ed, 10/21/22)
“Too many Americans are struggling to pay their bills. Instead of finger pointing, I will work tirelessly in Washington to take on the affordability crisis facing hard working families.” (Gillen 2022 campaign website)
BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE
Laura Gillen is a lawyer + mother of four who grew up in the district she is running to represent. She is a problem solver + has a track record of getting things done. In 2017, Gillen became the first Democrat elected as Hempstead Town Supervisor in 112 years. As Supervisor, Laura managed a budget of nearly $500 million + led the operations of all town departments. She took aim at waste + corruption + made the town government more accessible, transparent, + accountable to taxpayers. Her cost-saving measures enabled the town to lower taxes for residents after years of tax hikes.
In addition to her public service, Gillen has served the community throughout her career, from volunteering to care for people afflicted with AIDS at the height of that crisis, to working with Mother Teresa. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gillen volunteered with All Hands and Hearts, distributing PPE to local police stations, businesses + health centers.
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ISSUES
Gillen focusses on affordability issues, including the SALT tax cap enacted under then-President Trump. “Repealing the unfair SALT tax cap that hurts New Yorkers will be an immediate priority. I will also take aim at the price gouging hurting Americans – like oil companies taking advantage of the gas crisis + seeking to boost their record profits even more.”
She has long been an advocate for addressing climate change. Long Island water has the highest traces of 1,4 dioxane and PFOS, two likely carcinogens, in all of New York State. As Hempstead Supervisor, she took on big polluters + commenced litigation to help defer the huge cost of the filtration systems needed to remove contaminants. As a member of Congress, she will continue these efforts to preserve and protect Long Island’s shorelines + our earth.
Gillen has been endorsed by Emily’s List in part because of her strong stance on reproductive freedom. She has been public about having had a medically necessary abortion after a rare + heartbreaking fetal death. Gillen recounts the trauma of both the medical nightmare + the ensuing harassment by anti-choice activists as motivating factors in her fight to defend the right to abortions in the face of Republicans’ war on women’s reproductive freedom.
Gillen believes in sensible gun control, including background checks + wants to see gun violence treated as a public health crisis.
Long Island is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. As Hempstead Supervisor, Gillen proposed + passed legislation to give veteran-owned businesses a competitive edge in bidding for government contracts. She will continue to fight for veterans in Congress.
POLITICS
NY 04 is located in centra + southern Nassau County including cities such as the Hempstead, Garden City, Freeport, Oceanside + Long Beach.
NY-04 is the second-wealthiest congressional district in New York + among the wealthiest nationally. The district is currently represented by first-term Republican Anthony D'Esposito, who won in 2022. Gillen ran against D’Esposito in ‘22 + narrowly lost that race by 3.6 percentage points.
As of ‘24, this district, along with California's 22nd, is the most Democratic-leaning Congressional district represented by a Republican, with a partisan lean of D+5. It was also one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.