During nearly seven years as a Republican in the New York State Assembly, Nicole Malliotakis earned a reputation for embracing unpopular stances in the Democrat-controlled chamber, opposing minimum wage increases, paid family leave, gay marriage and public financing of elections.

But some of her most heartfelt declarations were reserved for issues relating to immigration. At an Assembly hearing in January, she jousted with Mayor Bill de Blasio over a sanctuary city law that delineates which undocumented immigrants, when convicted of major crimes, can be turned over to federal authorities for possible deportation.