Laura Anne Gillen (born July 10, 1969)[1] is an American politician and attorney who is the member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 4th congressional district.[2] A Democrat, she previously served as the town supervisor of Hempstead, New York.[3]
Early life and education
Gillen was born on July 10, 1969, in Rockville Centre, New York[4] and grew up in Baldwin.[5] She attended Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead[4] before earning a Bachelor of Arts in political science and fine arts from Georgetown University in 1991.[1]
After graduating, Gillen worked at an entertainment agency before traveling abroad.[6] She became a scuba diving instructor in Thailand[7] and later volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity, an organization founded by Mother Teresa, in Kolkata, India.[6]
Upon returning to the United States, she enrolled at New York University School of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 2000.[4]
Legal career
Gillen began her legal career as an associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, where she worked until 2005.[1] She then practiced commercial litigation at the Uniondale-based law firm Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein.[6] Following her time in local government, Gillen worked as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University Law School.[1]
Earlier political career
In 2017, Gillen narrowly defeated incumbent Anthony J. Santino for Hempstead Town Supervisor, becoming the first Democrat in 100 years elected to the position.[8] In that election, Gillen was outspent by $1.2 million dollars and won by a margin of 2,268 votes.[8][9]
During her 2017 campaign for Supervisor, Gillen criticized Santino's treatment of fellow town board members Bruce Blakeman and Erin King-Sweeney.[10] The two town board members took issue with a Santino proposal to restrict board members from taking more than $125,000 in outside income. While Santino denied it, the two attorneys argued that it was an attempt to throw them off the board.[11] Blakeman would later cross party lines to endorse Gillen in October.[12]
In May 2018, Gillen released a five year capital plan which included rehabilitation of a town 311 facility and a water testing lab and $160 million in capital highway spending.[13]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
In 2022, Gillen ran for the New York's 4th congressional district in 2022 United States House of Representatives elections. The seat was being vacated by incumbent Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice.[5] Gillen won the Democratic primary,[14] but lost the general election to Republican Anthony D'Esposito.[15]
2024
Gillen announced she would run against D'Esposito again in 2024. She narrowly defeated him in the general election, flipping the seat.[2] During her campaign, she said she opposed the implementation of congestion pricing in lower Manhattan.[16]
Tenure
In 2025, Gillen was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.[17]
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress:[18]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anthony D'Esposito | 129,353 | 47.63% | |
| Conservative | Anthony D'Esposito | 11,269 | 4.15% | |
| Total | Anthony D'Esposito | 140,622 | 51.78% | |
| Democratic | Laura Gillen | 130,871 | 48.19% | |
| Write-in | 67 | 0.02% | ||
| Total votes | 271,560 | 100% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Laura Gillen | 190,569 | 50.75% | |
| Common Sense Party | Laura Gillen | 1,191 | 0.32% | |
| Total | Laura Gillen | 191,760 | 51.07% | |
| Republican | Anthony D'Esposito | 169,641 | 45.18% | |
| Conservative | Anthony D'Esposito | 13,516 | 3.60% | |
| Total | Anthony D'Esposito (incumbent) | 183,157 | 48.77% | |
| Write-in | 601 | 0.16% | ||
| Total votes | 375,518 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
- ^ a b c d "Rep. Laura Gillen - D New York, 4th, In Office - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ a b Ngo, Emily; Beeferman, Jason (November 7, 2024). "Laura Gillen defeats Rep. Anthony D'Esposito in heated NY rematch focused on border security". Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Smollins, Mike (February 24, 2022). "Laura Gillen announces campaign for Congress in 4th District". Herald Community Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ a b c "Lauren, Gillen". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ^ a b Smollins, Mike (March 3, 2022). "Rockville Centre's Laura Gillen discusses her run for Congress". LI Herald. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03.
- ^ a b c Strack, Ben (22 November 2017). "Getting to know Laura Gillen". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ Eskow, Nick; Fontelo, Paul (January 3, 2025). "11 fun facts and miscellanies about the 119th Congress". Roll Call. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Dazio, Stefanie; Asbury, John (November 8, 2017). "Surprise win for Democrats in Hempstead supervisor race". Newsday. Archived from the original on 2021-03-22.
- ^ Wang, Vivian (November 13, 2019). "Rep. Peter King's Exit Highlights the G.O.P.'s Suburban Problem". The New York Times.
- ^ "Laura Gillen Responds To Supervisor Santino's State Of The Town". Long Island Weekly. 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Newsday endorses Gillen for Hempstead supervisor". Newsday. October 29, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Stieglitz, Brian (October 27, 2017). "Blakeman crosses party lines, endorses Gillen for town supervisor". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Dazio, Stefanie (May 6, 2018). "Town's capital plan includes 311 system". Newsday. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Winners in Long Island's primaries look forward to November election". News 12 Long Island. August 24, 2022.
- ^ "New York Fourth Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. 8 November 2022.
- ^ Brosnan, Erica (November 8, 2024). "Newly elected congresswoman vows to work across aisle". ny1.com.
- ^ Rashid, Hafiz (January 22, 2025). "The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans' Racist Immigration Bill". The New Republic. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses". Representative Gillen. 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
- ^ "2022 General". NY State Board of Elections. November 8, 2024.
- ^ "2024 General". NY State Board of Elections. November 5, 2024.