New York rematch could hold key to Democratic quest for House majority

Long Island's 4th Congressional District holds the title of most Democratic -leaning district currently represented by a Republican .

In 2022 , Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito beat Democrat Laura Gillen for the district’s open House seat by 3.6 points, putting the liberal bastion in GOP hands for the first time in more than two decades .

The top three House Democrats — Reps. Hakeem Jeffries ( N.Y. ) Katherine Clark ( Mass. ) and Pete Aguilar — have visited to campaign with Gillen this month .

Laura Gillen and Anthony D'Esposito are locked in a tight race for the 4th Congressional seat in New York's 4th district.

Both candidates have tried to moderate their stances on a number of hot-button issues, including immigration and reproductive rights.

The district is considered a “toss-up” with Cook Political Report rating it as a toss up”.

The Times report was the subject of the first question at the N.Y.-4 debate earlier this month , putting D'Esposito on the defensive out of the gate.

Gillen , for her part, has leaned into the allegations in the final stretch of the election.

The report is likely to be a mainstay of Gillen ’s final pitch to voters.