Ex-cop and 9/11 first responder secures Dem nod in bid to unseat firebrand conservative

Michael DeCillis, a former New York Police Department officer, won a Democratic primary on Tuesday evening, securing his party’s nomination to take on incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y.

The race is among many pivotal matchups set to determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority. Although New York Republicans have often found themselves the target of Democratic efforts to flip seats, DeCillis faces an uphill challenge in November.

DeCillis has argued that congressional resistance to President Donald Trump is key to preventing executive overreach.

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"He understands that our democracy is disappearing in real time," DeCillis’ campaign website reads.

"In the next Congress, Mike will fight to build guardrails to protect our rights and ensure the government serves everyone — not just billionaires."

Throughout his campaign, DeCillis has touted his diverse background in public service and deep ties to the community in New York, pointing out that he is a fourth-generation Staten Islander and a third-generation union member.

"I’ve worked in EMS as a paramedic for over a decade, was a 9/11 first responder, helping firefighters at Ground Zero, I’ve walked the streets of New York City as a police officer and taught as a special education teacher in our public schools," DeCillis said in a campaign video.

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DeCillis has run for the seat twice before — once in 2018 and in 2022. In both races, he dropped out before the general election.

Now in his third challenge, DeCillis is painting Malliotakis as a MAGA-aligned Republican, out of touch with the split voter demographic in the state, and calling her a "MAGA loyalist."

"President Trump and Republicans like Nicole Malliotakis are destroying democracy at home and diplomacy and security abroad," DeCillis said in a post to X.

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Malliotakis last won reelection in 2024 with a 63.8% to 35.8% victory over Democratic challenger Andrea Morse, an attorney and small-business owner.

Having cleared the primary, DeCillis will face off against Malliotakis in the Nov. 3 general election.