Alison Esposito is an American political candidate and former police officer who served in the New York City Police Department from 1997 to 2022. Esposito was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022. She was also the Republican nominee for New York's 18th congressional district in 2024, but lost to incumbent Pat Ryan.
Alison Esposito | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Esposito in 2022 | |
| Born | Alison Esposito Highland Mills, New York, U.S. |
| Education | State University of New York at Delhi John Jay College of Criminal Justice FBI Academy |
Political party | Republican |
| Police career | |
| Department | New York City Police Department |
| Service years | 1997–2022 |
| Rank | Deputy Inspector |
Early life and education
editEsposito was born and raised in Highland Mills, New York. Her father was a senior member of the New York City Police Department.[1] She attended the State University of New York at Delhi, before attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice. After that, she went to the FBI Academy at Quantico.[2]
Career
editEsposito joined the New York City Police Department in 1997 and eventually gained the position of deputy inspector and commanding officer in the 70th precinct of Brooklyn. She also served on a SWAT team, but retired from public service in 2022, citing dissatisfaction with the state government.[3] In 2022, Republican U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin announced Esposito as his running mate for governor.[4] They narrowly lost to incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. It was the closest gubernatorial election since 1994.[5] Esposito ran unopposed in the Republican primary for New York's 18th congressional district.[6] She lost to incumbent Pat Ryan in the general election.[7]
Personal Life
editEsposito has openly declared herself a gay woman.[8] She is the first openly gay major party nominee for statewide office in New York.[9] Had she been elected to the U.S. House, she would have been the first lesbian to serve as a Republican representative.[10]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
|
2,879,092 | 48.77% | −7.39% | |
| Working Families |
|
261,323 | 4.43% | +2.55% | |
| Total |
|
3,140,415 | 53.20% | −6.42% | |
| Republican |
|
2,449,394 | 41.49% | +9.89% | |
| Conservative |
|
313,187 | 5.31% | +1.15% | |
| Total |
|
2,762,581 | 46.80% | +10.59% | |
| Total votes | 5,788,802 | 100.0% | |||
| Turnout | 5,902,996 | 47.74% | |||
| Registered electors | 12,124,242 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pat Ryan | 189,345 | 52.3 | |
| Working Families | Pat Ryan | 17,761 | 4.9 | |
| Total | Pat Ryan (incumbent) | 207,106 | 57.2 | |
| Republican | Alison Esposito | 138,409 | 38.2 | |
| Conservative | Alison Esposito | 16,720 | 4.6 | |
| Total | Alison Esposito | 155,129 | 42.8 | |
| Total votes | 362,235 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
edit- ↑ Koch, M.J. (February 9, 2024). "'Enough Is Enough,' Former NYPD Cop Running for Congress Tells the Sun". The New York Sun. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Lisa, Kate (October 10, 2023). "Former lieutenant governor candidate launches bid for Hudson Valley congressional seat". Spectrum News. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Grego, Patrick (September 20, 2024). "Election 2024: Republican Alison Esposito Highlights Law Enforcement Experience in Bid for New York's 18th Congressional District". The New Pine Plains Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Lewis, Rebecca; Williams, Zach (February 23, 2022). "Republicans are backing a Brooklyn cop for lieutenant governor". City & State. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Lyons, Brendan (November 9, 2022). "Zeldin concedes to Hochul in closest governor's race race since 1994". Times Union. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Jefferson, Austin (October 15, 2024). "Why did the GOP pick Alison Esposito to challenge Rep. Pat Ryan?". City & State. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Parsnow, Luke (November 5, 2024). "Rep. Pat Ryan reelected in NY-18, defeats Alison Esposito". Spectrum News. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Williams, Tim (April 21, 2022). "Alison Esposito, designated GOP nominee for New York LG, could make LGBT history". State of Politics. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Hochul and Zeldin Win New York Primaries, Setting Up General Election Clash". The City. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ↑ Zanona, Melanie (October 10, 2024). "The LGBTQ women poised to make history in the House". Congressional Equality Caucus. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "2022 General Election Governor and Lt. Governor Results". New York State Board of Elections.
- ↑ "Certified November 5, 2024 General Election Results, approved 12.09.2024". New York State Board of Elections.