WATCH: After Primary Win, Gillen Talks Guns, Opponent On Patch AM

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — After defeating the field of Democrats on Tuesday, Laura Gillen moves on to the general election. She is vying for the seat held by Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, who chose not to run again.

In winning the primary, Gillen, a guest on Thursday's "Patch AM" said they "ran an aggressive field program."

She said her message clearly resonated most with voters.

"I think my record as Town of Hempstead supervisor is still familiar to the voters in this 4th Congressional District, which is mostly the Town of Hempstead," Gillen said.

If she gets to Capitol Hill, Gillen wants to take on one of the country's hot-button issues.

"Not getting rid of guns for lawful, law-abiding citizens, but we do not need military-grade assault weapons being sold to people in gun shops," she said.

However, in order to make it to Congress, Gillen will have to get past Town of Hempstead councilman Anthony D'Esposito in the general election. She outlines some of the differences between her opponent.

"I was never on the company payroll for any kind of political party," she said. "He will do whatever he's told by his party. He is a political hack who has two no-show jobs funded by the taxpayers. I earned my living in the private sector."

Watch the full "Patch AM" interview with Gillen below.