Less than a year after losing the race to become New York’s lieutenant governor, Alison Esposito is throwing her hat back in the political ring.
Esposito, a Republican who made waves in the 2022 gubernatorial race as former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin’s running mate, is a 25-year veteran of the New York Police Department and served as a deputy inspector and commanding officer of the 70th Police Precinct.
She formally announced her campaign Tuesday for New York’s 18th Congressional District comprised of Orange County and most of Dutchess and Ulster counties, currently held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan.
“I’m not a career politician — I am and always will be a cop,” Esposito said in a statement Tuesday. “I spent my life protecting the people of New York, and when I witnessed one-party, far-left rule turn our streets over to criminals, I knew continuing to protect my fellow New Yorkers meant doing something more.”
Esposito, who lives in Goshen, appealed to voters last year in focusing her campaign on improving public safety, crime rates and inflation.
“During that race, we worked together and created a commonsense wave that swept across New York and flipped the House of Representatives,” Esposito said. “My commitment to the millions who supported our campaign and what it stood for — securing our streets, providing our children with a quality education, driving down our cost of living and more — has not wavered. I have not given up on that vision for our state and country, which is why, today, I am honored to continue the fight by announcing my candidacy for Congress.”
Esposito went on to criticize President Joe Biden and Democrats she says have failed to protect the nation, citing ongoing issues at the Southern border and inflation that’s driven up costs of food, gas and utilities.
“Right now, the Hudson Valley is represented by a defender of President Biden’s failed policies,” Esposito said of Ryan. “Instead of fighting for everyday hardworking families, our representative is fighting for his own self-interest. It’s time we have someone who represents our Hudson Valley values. I have taken on criminals in the streets of New York, and now it is time to take on the Washington political machine. It’s time to reclaim our American dream and save our beloved state and country.”
Ryan’s campaign in a statement Tuesday blasted Esposito’s past comments that lawmakers’ focus on strengthening gun control and environmental issues are distractions from issues that matter most to New Yorkers.
“We’ve got enough MAGA extremists in Congress; what we need are more Patriots who will rise above the partisanship to deliver for Hudson Valley families,” Ryan said. “Esposito … wants a national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest, she’s sold out to big corporations who are ripping off hard-working families and she stands with insurrectionist traitors who want to overthrow our democracy.”
Zeldin ultimately lost the governorship last November by 6 points, fueling Republican hopefuls about future contests in New York. He was quick to endorse his former runningmate Tuesday.
“Alison is a fighter who has spent her career protecting New Yorkers,” Zeldin said in a statement. “Last year, I, like many New Yorkers, was captivated by Alison’s drive and determination to help me in our rescue mission to ‘save our state.’ Traveling across the state with Alison, it was clear how she understood and connected with New Yorkers of all walks of life. She has never stopped fighting for New Yorkers, and I know that when elected to represent her hometown in Congress, her unwavering spirit will make her an exceptional member of Congress.”
Esposito grew up in Highland Mills, Orange County, and attended SUNY Delhi, CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the FBI National Academy at Quantico in Virginia.
