A new report shows that Democrat Laura Gillen is cashing campaign checks from the same transportation, aviation, and automotive industries she helps oversee in Congress.
Gillen has raked in at least $57,000 from industries under her jurisdiction, according to FEC data.
The donations raise some questions, especially considering that Gillen has a history of using her power to reward donors, including granting one top donor a $1.5 billion contract as Hempstead Town Supervisor.
REMINDER: Gillen opposes stopping lawmakers from using insider knowledge to get rich.
You can read the full story here or see highlights below.
Who Is Backing a Local Official's Campaign?
Long Island Life & Politics
September 1, 2026
U.S. Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-Garden City) has accepted at least $57,000 for her reelection campaign from the automotive, aviation and transportation industries, according to data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) exclusively obtained by LILP. Gillen is currently running for reelection against Republican challenger Jeanine Driscoll.
Gillen is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Based on the FEC data, Gillen accepted campaign donations from the following airline and aviation companies and political action committees:
American Airlines Inc. Its PAC donated $1,000, while the company gave $386.80.
Delta Airlines. Its PAC gave $12,000 to Gillen’s campaign, while the company kicked in $6,030.48.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Crewmember Good Government Group, donating $5,000.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association Political Action Committee, which gave $3,500.
Airlines for America Political Action Committee, which donated $500 to Gillen’s campaign.
Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees’ Political Action Committee, which gave $5,000 to Gillen.
Honeywell International Inc. Technologies Public Affairs Council, donating $6,500.
General Dynamics Corporation Political Action Committee, which gave $1,000.
Employees of Northrop Grumman Corporation PAC, which contributed $2,500.
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. PAC, which donated $5,000 to Gillen’s campaign.
In addition, Gillen has accepted donations from transportation and automotive corporations while sitting on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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LILP also found out that Gillen has accepted $12,500 from seven out-of-state sugar cane industry PACs. According to the FEC filings, these companies came from Florida and Louisiana — two of the biggest producers of sugarcane in the nation — as well as Utah, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Minnesota and North Dakota. (New York does not have a sugarcane industry.)
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