Gillen Touts Labor Record After AFL-CIO Endorsement Snub

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The New York AFL-CIO released its full slate of 2026 endorsements this week, identifying the candidates running for office in November who the union believes are “the best choices for working people.” Left off the endorsement list this year was former Hempstead Town Supervisor and current 4th-district congresswoman Laura Gillen, who said she was proud of her record on labor matters despite the non-endorsement.

“Rep. Gillen is proud of her record of standing with and fighting for our hardworking men and women in Labor,” a spokesperson for Gillen’s campaign said Thursday. “She is a staunch pro-union partner, original cosponsor of the PRO Act and has been endorsed by local chapters of major unions.”

The AFL-CIO previously endorsed Gillen in her 2024 bid for congress, wherein she defeated Anthony D’Esposito in a rematch of a 2022 race that she lost by less than 10,000 votes.

That 2024 race was marred on the Republican side by accusations that D’Esposito had engaged in improper hiring practices by putting an ex-girlfriend, his fiancee’s daughter and family members of prominent Nassau County Republicans on his payroll.

A little over a year later, D’Esposito was confirmed as inspector general for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Despite not receiving the AFL-CIO nomination, Gillen has racked up nominations from SMART Local 28, SEIU 32BJ, IBEW Local 3, CWA District 1, ATU, IATSE Local 1, NASRCC, NYSUT and Teamsters Joint Council 16 in her race against Driscoll.

Elsewhere on Long Island, the union endorsed Republican Andrew Garbarino in the race for New York’s 2nd congressional district and Democrat Tom Suozzi in the race for the 3rd congressional district.