In a significant political shift, Democrat Laura Gillen has successfully clinched a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for New York by defeating Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito during Thursday’s election.

Previously serving as the town supervisor, Gillen’s campaign emphasized her commitment to law enforcement and enhancing border security—issues that have been focal points for many Democrats, particularly in light of their setbacks in New York in the 2022 elections.

In their last encounter, Gillen narrowly lost to D’Esposito by a little over three percentage points, making her current victory particularly noteworthy.

As part of a wider trend, Gillen is among several Democrats challenging Republican representatives in New York districts that were previously captured by President Joe Biden in the 2020 elections.

The congressional district, located just outside of Queens, New York City, has become a significant battleground, and as of 12:39 p.m. EST, the announcement confirming Gillen’s win was made, marking a pivotal moment in this electoral cycle.