Republican Alison Esposito learned a lot from her first run for elected office last year — and she’s using it to fuel her campaign for a closely watched House seat in the Hudson Valley. She came within about 6 percentage points of becoming the first Republican lieutenant governor in more than 20 years when she was former Rep. Lee Zeldin’s running mate in last year’s gubernatorial campaign. Now, as she runs for the GOP nomination for a pivotal district north of New York City, Esposito sees many of the same issues animating voters heading into 2024 that drove them to the polls a year ago. That includes crime, immigration and the economy, she told Playbook in an interview. “We made a commitment to the people of New York state that we were going to help them,” she said. “Just because we came up short doesn’t change my commitment to the people of New York state.” Esposito is running to unseat Democratic freshman Pat Ryan in one of the few New York House seats Republicans expect to play offense in next year. An estimated six seats are considered to be in play; nearly all are represented by Republicans. Esposito, a retired New York City police officer, expects voters will be concerned over the migrant crisis as well as public safety. “What’s happening in New York City affects all of the people in the suburbs,” she said. “Crime doesn’t just stay in the city, and that’s what we’re seeing now.” But already Democrats are scrutinizing her record. Ryan, a fundraising powerhouse among Democratic freshmen in vulnerable districts, is expected to run heavily on his support for abortion rights. The House Democrats’ campaign arm in a statement also cast Esposito as a carpetbagger. “A New York City resident who has been district shopping for a congressional run for months, Alison Esposito is launching a MAGA campaign aligned with the extremist fringes of the Republican Party,” DCCC spokesperson Ellie Dougherty said. “Esposito’s staunch anti-abortion and anti-gun safety record would make life more dangerous for Hudson Valley families.” Speaking with Playbook, Esposito cast her abortion stance as one that would provide more support for pregnant women, including financial and health care resources. Abortion should be “rare and not used as birth control,” she said. Esposito also confirmed she had changed her voter registration from New York City to an address in the district earlier this month — days before she formally announced her campaign. She built a home in Orange County in 2005, but also kept a place in the city, Esposito said. Esposito also pointed to her childhood in Orange County and her longtime ties to the district, like being a lifeguard at Harriman State Park. “This is where I grew up,” she said. “I feel like if I couldn’t do something statewide, I would start something districtwide.” — Nick Reisman IT’S THURSDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? In Florida with no public schedule. WHERE’S ERIC? Making a public safety-related announcement with NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, speaking at the unveiling of the “We ❤️ NYC” sculpture in Times Square and kicking off a coat drive, speaking at a flag-raising ceremony for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, appearing on ABC’s “GMA3,” hosting an older adult town hall and presenting a proclamation at a gala to benefit families of fallen first responders. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.” — Rep. Jamaal Bowman reacting to the misdemeanor charge brought by the District of Columbia’s attorney general after he triggered a fire alarm during a chaotic vote for a stopgap spending measure.
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