Republican and Conservative voters took to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 10, electing political newcomer Dr. Marilyn O'Grady of Garden City as their candidate in a three-person GOP primary for the 4th Congressional District. She will run against current Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) in November.

O'Grady earned 9,303 Republican votes while opponents Dan Frisa of Salisbury and Steve Irace of Garden City earned 5,521 and 3,750, respectively. On the Conservative ticket, O'Grady earned 330 votes while Frisa earned 299. Irace did not run on the Conservative ticket.

O'Grady's win comes in the wake of nearly a month of political and legal proceedings brought forth by Frisa in an attempt to eliminate his opponents and a primary election altogether by stating that O'Grady and Irace, as well as candidate Alan Skorski of West Hempstead, who withdrew from the race, did not secure the necessary number of signatures to remain on the ballot. The Appellate Court ruled in O'Grady's and Irace's favor and Frisa's attempt to reverse that decision failed.

"I was thrilled with the voter response," said O'Grady during a recent interview with the Floral Park Dispatch. "I am really thankful how diligently the Republicans worked to get out the vote. The vote spoke for itself [and] hopefully, we can now all come together for a big win on November 5."

O'Grady is currently gearing up to face Congresswoman McCarthy who has held the seat in the House since defeating Frisa back in 1996. "I feel very optimistic," said O'Grady. "I feel the district is ready for a change."