Gillen, Suozzi face likely challenges in Democrats' primary
Party control of Congress is at stake in the fall elections. Credit: AP/Rahmat Gul
WASHINGTON — Targeted by Republicans in this fall’s general elections, Long Island Reps. Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi may first have to fight through primary challenges from fellow Democrats.
Long Island’s 2026 congressional election landscape started to emerge Tuesday, as the deadline passed for candidates to seek spots on the June 23 primary ballot — though documents postmarked by midnight Monday still count and objections can be made.
Attention has focused on whom Nassau County Republicans will support to run this fall for freshman Gillen’s seat, which is seen by the GOP and some nonpartisan political handicappers as competitive and potentially key to which party controls the U.S. House in January 2027.
But three fellow Democrats have filed petitions seeking spots on the June primary ballot to challenge Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) for the Democratic nomination.
They are: former Assemb. Taylor Darling, Kiana Bierria-Anderson and Frank Lozada.
On the other side of the political aisle, protracted speculation has focused on whether former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito will run or not. D’Esposito himself did not suddenly file seeking a ballot spot.
But a candidate that is seen by many as a placeholder name on petitions until party leaders can pick a substitute — former Village of Valley Stream Mayor John A. DeGrace — has, in fact, filed his ballot access petitions.
Once approved, DeGrace can then accept a spot on the primary ballot, or not, and the local leaders could then hand-pick who will fill that vacancy. DeGrace also has filed petitions to appear on the Conservative Party line.
Two others have filed to run as Republicans, Marvin Suber Williams of Garden City, a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel; and Michael Mandel.
District 3
Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) — whose district also is viewed by both parties as potentially pivotal this fall in which party will control the chamber — is similarly not the only Democrat filing.
Democrat Danielle Welch, a lawyer, is seeking a primary ballot spot.
Across the aisle, President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate to challenge Suozzi this fall — former Assemb. Michael LiPetri — may himself be facing a primary opponent.
Gregory Hach, a lawyer and Air Force veteran, has also filed as Republican seeking a spot on the June 23 ballot. LiPetri submitted papers to run as a conservative, as well.
District 2
Three Democrats have filed to appear on the primary ballot seeking to be the party’s choice to try to unseat Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport).
Garbarino has filed to appear on primary ballots on both the GOP and conservative lines.
The Democrats are: former Suffolk County Executive Pat Halpin; Garrett Petersen; and Jessica Murphy. Halpin also has filed primary ballot petitions on the Working Families line.
District 1
Three Democrats also have filed primary ballot access petitions seeking their party’s nomination to run against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville).
They are Christopher Gallant, a former military pilot and union leader; Jonathan L. Jacobs, a medical doctor, and Lukas Ventouras.
LaLota also filed petitions seeking to win the Conservative Party line in the June primary.
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NewsdayTV team coverage of Rex Heuermann guilty pleas in Gilgo Beach killings Rex Heuermann, of Massapequa Park, has pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women whose bodies were found along Gilgo Beach and admitted to killing another. NewsdayTV has team coverage from key locations around Long Island.
