Zeldin Renews Call for Hochul to Agree to Debates

Watch the press conference here.

NEW YORK – On Friday, September 16, 2022, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party Nominee for Governor, was joined by his running mate, Alison Esposito, calling for answers, an investigation, and government reform after Governor Kathy Hochul awarded an over $600 million no-bid contract to a top campaign donor and charged New York taxpayers over twice the going rate. Additionally, during today’s press conference, Congressman Zeldin once again called out Hochul for her continued refusal to accept any debate requests. Congressman Zeldin and Alison Esposito held their press conference outside the New York City Subway station at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, in between legs of their travel today on the subway to speak to voters.

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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.

NEW YORK – Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party nominee for Governor, held a virtual statewide press conference blasting Kathy Hochul for her continued refusal to accept any televised debate requests.

“We both owe it to the voters as part of this process to have multiple debates. I believe we should have at least five. It’s almost like Kathy Hochul wants to have a debate at 3:00 pm the day before an election that’s not televised. I mean, she’s not saying how many, where, when. There are many requests that are sitting there in her inbox right now, and it’s not hard for her to start saying yes. The voters of New York deserve it,” said Congressman Zeldin.

“Even in the Democratic party primary, Kathy Hochul had multiple debates,” Congressman Zeldin continued. “She should not be getting away with having one, and quite frankly, I don’t even think she should get away with having just two, because there’s something to be gained from having multiple debates around the state. Based off the location where the debate is, there can be a focus on issues that are important to that region. I don’t think that upstate should be left out of this process. If Kathy Hochul agreed to do a couple of debates and both of them were going to be inside of Manhattan or in the New York City media market, I think that is unfair and wrong for people around the rest of the state who want to talk about their local issues. Maybe it’s border policy with Canada, maybe it’s the need for broadband, maybe it’s the safe extraction of natural gas in that debate in the Southern Tier. There is something to be gained by having more than two debates. She hasn’t even yet agreed to one.”

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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.

NEW YORK – Today, Andrew Stein, former New York City Council President, Manhattan Borough President and State Assemblyman, endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party nominee for Governor:

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement tonight from yet another prominent New York Democrat. Andrew Stein was a New York City Council President, Manhattan Borough President, and State Assemblyman. Unlike Kathy Hochul, I’m running to be Governor for all New Yorkers, and together we’re going to Save Our State!”

###

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.

NEW YORK – Today, the Policemen’s Benevolent Association of Westchester County endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party candidate for Governor.

“Lee Zeldin and Allison Esposito for New York State Governor and Lt. Governor have consistently backed Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders and, will fight back against calls to defund the police. Lee Zeldin has also stated he will also push back against bail reform, which in New York is no bail at all. Allison Esposito is a retired Deputy Inspector and Commanding Officer of the 70th precinct and is pro law enforcement,” said President of the Policemen’s Benevolent Association of Westchester County, Joseph F. Giustino.

Congressman Zeldin has now received 26 labor endorsements for his campaign. He has also been endorsed by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138, Laborers Local 1298, Transport Workers Union Local 252, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Suffolk County Superior Officers Association, Suffolk County Detectives Association, Suffolk County Probation Officers Association, Suffolk County Detective Investigators PBA, Suffolk County Police Conference, Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent Association, Nassau County Probation Officers Association, NYC Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, Amityville Village PBA, Northport Village PBA, Lynbrook PBA, IBEW Local 2230, Nassau County Police Detectives’ Association, NYC Detectives’ Endowment Association, NYPD Captains Endowment Association, NYPD Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Nassau County Police Superior Officers Association, Suffolk County Court Officers Benevolent Association, Transit Supervisors Organization, Orleans County Sheriff’s Employees Association, and Southampton Town Patrolman’s Benevolent Association.

###

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.

NEW YORK – Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party nominee for Governor, blasted the New York Board of Regents for passing “substantial equivalency” regulations on Yeshivas and other non-public institutions:

“Yeshiva education teaches values that have their students living law-abiding, productive lives, and provides high-quality learning experiences for so many young boys and girls. New York is wrong for pushing these substantial-equivalency standards, and Kathy Hochul has been AWOL every step of the way, claiming this is all outside her purview as Governor as if she isn’t even allowed to have and express an opinion. This is her MO on issue after issue while she campaigns for votes from New Yorkers who are asking us where we stand on top issues. Instead of defending access to choice and other educational options that fit each unique child’s needs, Kathy Hochul stands idly by and does nothing to set any of the record straight. Meanwhile, the State Education Department and Board of Regents continues to expand its power as an unelected fourth branch of government. As Governor, I will promote more school choice, not less, and do everything in my power to fight for students first and empower parents to be in control of their family’s destiny in life and truly be in charge of their child’s education and upbringing.”

###

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.

NEW YORK – Today, the Southampton Town Patrolman’s Benevolent Association endorsed Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party candidate for Governor.

“We recognize Congressman Zeldin’s long standing commitment to law enforcement and labor throughout his career. As calls for ‘Defund the Police’ grew loud across the Country and New York State your unwavering support for the men and women in uniform was felt strongly as you stood against this notion. Lee Zeldin’s leadership as Governor of New York State will help change the dangerous legislation that has been passed and has put so many residents in danger,” said president of the Southampton Town Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, Erik Breitwieser.

Congressman Zeldin has now received 25 labor endorsements for his campaign. He has also been endorsed by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138, Laborers Local 1298, Transport Workers Union Local 252, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Suffolk County Superior Officers Association, Suffolk County Detectives Association, Suffolk County Probation Officers Association, Suffolk County Detective Investigators PBA, Suffolk County Police Conference, Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs Police Benevolent Association, Nassau County Probation Officers Association, NYC Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, Amityville Village PBA, Northport Village PBA, Lynbrook PBA, IBEW Local 2230, Nassau County Police Detectives’ Association, NYC Detectives’ Endowment Association, NYPD Captains Endowment Association, NYPD Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Nassau County Police Superior Officers Association, Suffolk County Court Officers Benevolent Association, Transit Supervisors Organization, and Orleans County Sheriff’s Employees Association.

###

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.