Congressman Zeldin Endorsed by Current and Former Democrat Elected Officials and Other Democrat Leaders

Watch the press conference here.

NEW YORK – Today, current and former Democrat Elected Officials and other Democrat leaders endorsed the Gubernatorial campaign of Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1).

“To me, this was a no brainer, and let me tell you why. Look at the current condition of New York State and New York City. There’s mayhem in our streets, in our courts, in our jails; a mass exodus from New York City and New York State,” said New York City Councilman Robert Holden. “We’re headed in the wrong direction and the policies of this Governor have really made this come to a point where this isn’t an option for many voters in New York, and as a Democrat, a lifelong Democrat – 50 years as a Democrat – the handwriting is on the wall. Lee Zeldin is the option for voters in New York State.” 

“I’m a lifelong Democrat, but today I’m not here as a Democrat, a Republican. I’m here for the average New Yorkers. I‘m here for the New Yorkers who are scared to get on the train. I’m here for the New Yorkers who are scared to walk the sidewalks of our city,” said Dov Hikind, former New York State Assemblyman. 

“When I was in Albany with Dov, we had the former Commonsense Caucus. Twenty members joined to push through strong anti-crime laws. You can’t get that today,” said Stephen Kaufman, former NYS Assemblyman and City Council Member. “There’s no common sense. There’s no intelligence. There’s no wisdom. All it is is corruption. All it is is pay to pay. We have a chance to open the windows, to let sunshine into government, to bring somebody who has a great proven record who is pro New York State, who will fight for our survival. I support wholeheartedly, as a Democrat, as a human being, as a New Yorker, our next Governor of New York State Lee Zeldin.

“I was a special education teacher for over 14 years, and I have never once in my life voted for a Republican. That changes in 2022 with Lee Zeldin. I put my full support behind him,” said Michael Kane, founder of Teachers for Choice. “We need balance back. We need common sense back.”

“I stand here as a 40 year Democrat,” said Madeline Brame, Chairwoman of the Victims Rights Reform Council. “We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Every day, there’s a mother identifying her child’s body at the morgue. We’re tired of it. There’s a mother and a family at a child’s bedside praying and hoping they pull through the night. We’re sick and tired of people being beaten in the head with hammers. The one that almost chopped a man’s head off the other day with a machete. We’re sick and tired of it. We want to know what is going to happen, who is going to be there to protect the victims of crime. We believe and we trust that Lee Zeldin is the man who is going to pay attention and listen to our concerns, and he’s going to go in there and do his best to turn things around.” 

“Crime is out of control and no matter how hard the Democrats repeat the same line, we know that cashless bail is to blame and it must be repealed in New York City and New York State for our city to return to the safe city we’ve enjoyed for decades,” said Yiatin Chu, Founder and President of Asian Wave Alliance. “Today, there is urgency in electing a leader that will take our priorities seriously – public safety, affordability and educating our kids well for their future, our future. This is why I support Lee Zeldin as our next Governor in New York.”

“I’m a first generation immigrant,” said Donghui Zang, former New York City Council Candidate. “I made my way up through education, and I understand how important it is for every child to be given the same opportunity through a fair and objective test. The test also motivates kids and is an essential part of learning.  I support Lee Zeldin for Governor, because he will honor and respect meritocracy.”

“The way Governor Hochul is running the city and the state is a disaster. Last week, two children coming out of school in Brooklyn were killed. Parents are afraid to send their children to school. They don’t even know if their children will be coming back alive,” said Ruben Diaz Sr, former New York State Senator. “As a hispanic, I’m here to tell the Democratic Party you have taken us for granted for many years. The Hispanic community has been voting Democrat, but now we are awakened.” 

“What you see are current and former Democrat elected officials, and other Democrat community leaders coming together as New Yorkers in this very important moment in time when we have an opportunity to save our city and save our state. I’m running for Governor to be the governor for all New Yorkers whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or independent. Whether you vote for me or you don’t, it’s our job to work with colleagues in government to find common ground however possible. To work with all New Yorkers on solutions that will move this city and state forward,” said Congressman Lee Zeldin.

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About Lee Zeldin

Lee Zeldin was born and raised on Long Island. He grew up in Suffolk County and graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, where his identical twin daughters attend school today. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and then his law degree from Albany Law School, becoming New York’s youngest attorney at the time at the age of 23.

Lee spent four years on Active Duty with the U.S. Army after completing ROTC and served in different capacities, including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Prosecutor, and Military Magistrate. In the summer of 2006, while assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, Lee deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2007, Lee returned to Suffolk County with his family. It was at this time that Lee transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserve, where he currently serves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In 2008, Lee established a successful law practice in Smithtown, NY. Elected to the New York State Senate two years later, in 2010, Lee’s been working hard every day since to keep the promises he made to the hard-working families he represents.

In the State Senate, Lee:

  • Led the successful effort to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for 80 percent of employers, a job killing tax that was hurting small businesses. 

  • Cosponsored the nation’s strongest property tax cap, which became law.

  • Reduced middle-income tax rates in New York to the lowest level in 60 years.

  • Secured the repeal of the Saltwater Fishing License Fee.

  • Created the PFC Joseph Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program to help our returning veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 

  • Authored the law to protect our fallen veterans and their families from protests at military burials. 

Lee was then elected to the United States Congress in 2014, representing New York’s First Congressional District, and has now won seven consecutive races since 2010 in purple NYC suburban districts, unseating two Democrat incumbents along the way. In Congress, Lee quickly became a leading voice in America on top local, domestic and foreign policy issues: 

  • Combating and defeating MS-13 on Long Island, leading the charge in New York and nationally against cashless bail, opposing all efforts to defund, dismantle or abolish police, and providing law enforcement the resources they need to fight gang violence and other crimes in our communities, including bulletproof vests.

  • Securing the repeal of many harmful, job killing regulations, with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, and many other initiatives, to improve our business climate and grow our economy. 

  • Leading the charge to end all COVID mandates. 

  • Saving Plum Island, by securing the repeal of a 2008 federal law requiring the island to be sold off to the highest bidder. 

  • Delivering a $1.5 billion boost in border security resources, helping to choke off the flow of illegal migration across our borders. 

  • Introducing and passing into law his Adult Day Health Care legislation for disabled veterans and opening a new health care clinic for East End veterans.

  • Delivering the Electron Ion Collider “discovery machine” to Brookhaven National Lab that will enable advancements in national security, medical and cancer research, astrophysics, and more and create an extensive number of jobs. 

  • Advancing his law enforcement bill of rights, which would help ensure that our great law enforcement officers and the people they serve are protected.

  • Championing the expansion of the Dwyer Program nationally, to help all of our nation’s veterans access the resources they need. 

  • Securing much needed support of treatment, enforcement, and prevention for those affected by the heroin and opioid abuse crisis.

  • Leading the effort against the fatally flawed Iran Nuclear Deal.

  • Co-authoring a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 246) that passed the House opposing the anti-Israel and antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

  • Working with the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our coastlines, advancing the ambitious Fire Island to Montauk Point project, in addition to several other vital projects on the north and south shores of Long Island.

  • Co-Chairing the Long Island Sound Caucus and advancing top priorities for the Long Island Sound Program, National Estuary Program and SeaGrant.

  • Co-chairing, as one of only two Jewish Republicans in Congress, the House Republican Israel Caucus, and serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Financial Services Committee, as well as four House Subcommittees.

  • Successfully resolving over 17,000 constituent cases in favor of his constituents.

Lee and his wife, Diana, reside in Shirley with their twin fifteen-year old daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.