Laura Gillen won the Democratic primary on Tuesday in a New York district Republicans are attempting to flip after Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) announced she would not run for reelection.
The 4th Congressional District, which stretches across central and southern Nassau County, wasn’t initially considered up for grabs, but Republicans began to shift their attention after Rice, who has held the seat since 2015, announced in February she wouldn’t run for reelection.
KATHLEEN RICE JOINS RANKS OF RETIRING HOUSE DEMOCRATS
Her departure, along with more than 30 other House Democrats who announced their retirements, puts increased pressure on the party to make gains if it wishes to maintain control of Congress in November.
The sudden news of Rice’s departure wasn’t the only variable that introduced uncertainty into the midterm campaign cycle. After Democrats sought to hold the primary as initially scheduled in June with their proposed congressional maps, a judge in May ordered a delay of the election amid redistricting battles.
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That decision came after the New York Court of Appeals ruled on April 27 that the proposed congressional map, as well as the state Senate map, violated anti-gerrymandering laws and had to be redrawn. The state released its final map drawn by a special master in late May, obliterating Democratic gains and positioning several incumbents on a collision course with each other.
The race is likely to lean Democratic, although the GOP could turn its attention to the district to make it a competitive race as Republicans seek to make gains in the House. Gillen is set to face Republican nominee Anthony D’Esposito in November.
