Republicans select slate against New York congressional Democrats

New York voters in four competitive districts selected Republican nominees Tuesday night to take on Democratic incumbents as the GOP tries to hold on to its razor-thin House majority. 

Due to several rounds of redistricting over the years, there are only a handful of competitive congressional districts in the state. Two of them are on Long Island, where another two are upstate. Democrats flipped three of the four in 2024 after a New York red wave in 2022 brought down many Democrats. 

The November midterm elections will also be an important political test for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who will appear atop the Republican gubernatorial ballot ticket. Blakeman won President Donald Trump’s endorsement partially in the hope that he could turn out voters to conquer Long Island, one of the best offensive opportunities for Republicans in the country.

Here are four of the Republican insurgents the GOP is relying on to maintain its thin House majority.

3rd Congressional District: Mike LiPetri vs. Tom Suozzi

visited Long Island to stump for LiPetri.

“If you need a congressman, if you need somebody who’s going to fight for you in Washington, DC, Michael LiPetri is your guy,” Vance said at a campaign event. “But if you need a wealth manager, put your money wherever Tom Suozzi is putting his money, because this is a man who hates representing you, but loves sitting at his desk and trading stocks.”

Suozzi alleged in response that Vance had improperly used taxpayer funds to attend the event.  

The 3rd District, which covers parts of northern Long Island, is one of the state’s wealthiest. Suozzi leads LiPetri by just over $4 million in fundraising, according to FEC filings. Suozzi won by about 3.5 points in 2024, while Trump carried the seat by just over 4 points.

4th Congressional District: Jeanine Driscoll vs. Laura Gillen

first Democrat elected to that position in more than 100 years. Driscoll, meanwhile, has served as Hempstead Receiver of Taxes since 2020. She was previously an attorney for much of her career.

Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito was widely expected to challenge Gillen, whom he narrowly lost to in 2024. D’Esposito opted instead to retain his job as the Department of Labor’s inspector general, leaving the Republican nomination open for Driscoll.

The Democratic incumbent maintains a massive financial edge over Driscoll. Gillen’s campaign has brought in roughly $4.4 million more than Driscoll’s. 

New York’s 4th Congressional District covers a southern portion of Nassau County on Long Island. Gillen last secured 51.1% of the vote in 2024, while former Vice President Kamala Harris won 50.04% of the district’s voters that year.

19th Congressional District: Peter Oberacker vs. Josh Riley

February endorsement on Truth Social that Oberacker is a “very successful ‘Meat Market’ Businessman” and “Dedicated Public Servant” who has “served his Community with a career ‘loaded up’ with accolades and wins.”

Oberacker fended off a primary challenge from fellow Republican Alexander Portelli. Portelli’s campaign platform included a commitment to repeal the federal income tax on people above a certain income threshold. The Marine Corps veteran received a four-year prison sentence in 2011 after police found ecstasy and other prescription drug tablets in the glovebox of his car.

New York’s 19th is one of the state’s whitest congressional districts, with more than 8-in-10 residents identifying as non-Hispanic white on the 2020 census. Riley won the district with 51.1% of the vote in 2024, just above Harris’s 50.3%.

22nd Congressional District: Kailee Buller vs. John Mannion

Brooke Rollins until February. She previously was the president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association.

Republicans were dealt a blow when state Assemblyman John Lemondes appeared to be a likely contender for the GOP nominee, though he suspended his campaign in January. Buller announced her candidacy two months later.

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New York’s 22nd Congressional District includes the eastern Finger Lakes region, Syracuse, and Utica. The district is heavily agricultural; Mannion is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, and the district includes over 2,000 farms.

Mannion unseated then-Rep. Brandon Williams by 8 points in 2024. Harris received 53.3% of the district’s vote that year. Due to redistricting and a likely difficult political environment for Republicans, this seat is no longer considered as competitive as it once was.

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