Nassau GOP backs Gillen challenger, with no word on D'Esposito run

WASHINGTON — Nassau County GOP leaders have quietly designated a former Village of Valley Stream mayor as their candidate for the congressional seat held by Democrat Laura Gillen, after months of conjecture that former Rep. Anthony D'Esposito would run.

A county Republican committee spokesman confirmed late Friday that John A. DeGrace is the designated party choice, appearing on petitions being circulated to qualify for the Republican ballot line — with no known public event as a candidate, no known news release and no official candidate filing with the Federal Election Commission.

DeGrace said in a statement released by a party spokesman Friday night that he is "proud to be the choice of the Nassau Republican Committee."

But there are questions as to whether DeGrace, who is also a former commissioner of the county board of elections, may be performing as a placeholder in the competitive district, which lies entirely within Nassau County.

DeGrace's candidacy comes as Nassau party chairman Joe Cairo has been openly hoping — if not expecting — that D’Esposito would seek his party’s nomination for a rematch against Gillen this fall for the seat D'Esposito lost to her in 2024.

For D’Esposito to run for Congress again, the one-time New York City police officer would have to resign as the U.S. Labor Department’s inspector general, a watchdog job to which he was nominated by President Donald Trump and was just sworn in on Jan. 6.

Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs questioned whether DeGrace is really intended to be the eventual choice to take on Gillen, or whether he will step aside later.

"I’d be surprised if he ends up being the candidate. But you never know," said Jacobs, who is also the state Democratic Party chairman.

D’Esposito did not respond to calls and texts.

But the county GOP committee’s spokesman, Mike Deery, confirmed the candidacy by text. Asked why DeGrace is on the petitions, Deery answered, "John DeGrace is the Nassau County Republican Committee’s designate candidate in NY-4,"

When pressed whether DeGrace has Cairo’s support and endorsement, Deery responded, "Yes."

D'Esposito silence

Just last week, multiple sources familiar with D’Esposito’s plans said he was about to resign the Labor Department post and would soon announce his candidacy.

But there has been silence since — including from D’Esposito himself — who last Friday declined to say before a congressional committee whether he was running, or not. When a Democrat on the panel advised him that the federal Hatch Act prohibited him from campaigning while he held the federal job, D'Esposito said, "I am well aware of the Hatch Act." 

Under ballot rules, there could be a window for a party to get one candidate on the ballot and later switch to another. The first candidate would need to get the signatures to qualify, but later decline the nomination, opening a brief window for the county party to designate someone else.

Deery did not respond directly when asked about that scenario in a follow-up call.

But he said in a text message that DeGrace "has expressed a desire to run and he has a long resume of community and government experience."

Along with mentioning that DeGrace is a former mayor and commissioner of the county board of elections, Derry noted he was also a deputy tax receiver in the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County deputy treasurer.

"He has been involved in coaching youth sports in Valley Stream," Deery noted. He also mentioned DeGrace was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Multiple attempts to contact DeGrace directly were unsuccessful, and there was no immediate response from the Gillen campaign.

Other challengers

There are at least three other Republican candidates who have filed initial papers with the FEC. They are Massapequa lawyer Dennis McGrath; a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel from Garden City, Marvin Williams; and a third Republican, Brian Miller.

A spokesman for Williams’s campaign, Woodrow Johnston, said that if this is, in fact, a placeholder maneuver to clear the way for D’Esposito later, “It’s a bold strategy,” but that “New Yorkers are very tough and shrewd people.”

If DeGrace is really running with just a “wink and nod,” Johnston said, the district’s Republican voters “will see through things like that.”

McGrath said in a text he would reserve a response for now, other than, “I’ll just wish the nominee the best of luck in defeating Laura Gillen.”