Republicans dismayed as Trump official quits race to unseat Dem: 'This wasn't planned'

Republicans in New York were dismayed on Tuesday after a Trump administration official called it quits in a race to unseat a Democratic-held seat in Long Island, according to a new report.

The New York Times reported that Anthony D’Esposito, President Donald Trump's inspector general in the Department of Labor, decided not to run against Rep. Lauren Gillen (D-NY), who was elected in November 2024. The report added that D’Esposito's decision ended a months-long "Hamlet on Hempstead routine," which seemed to turn off some supporters.

“This wasn’t planned — put it that way,” Peter King, a former congressman who is close with New York Republican leadership, told the Times.

The move put New York Republicans in an awkward position as they supported their new candidate, a tax receiver named Jeannie Driscoll, who had declared her candidacy on Tuesday.

“It’s not the ideal race,” he added. “Anthony is obviously everyone’s first choice, but Jeanine is more than a second choice. She’s a good candidate.”

The report was published at a time when Republicans hold one of the slimmest majorities in Congressional history, and are facing a groundswell of support for Democrats as the 2026 midterm elections approach.