Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, is adding key endorsements from party officials in an attempt to dominate the 2022 gubernatorial primary field, allowing him to emerge as the nominee against scandal-plagued Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Zeldin, first elected to the House in 2014, has 37% of the endorsements from the New York state GOP and 35% from the state Conservative Party. Zeldin needs to surpass 50% at both parties nominating conventions next year to become the officially endorsed gubernatorial candidate of each.
That’s no guarantee of Zeldin winning the Republican gubernatorial nomination — that’s up to primary voters. But the backing from insiders early in the cycle shows Zeldin is picking up institutional support. It’s an important factor in mounting a credible race because Democrats have a massive voter edge statewide.
The last Republican to win a gubernatorial contest was Gov. George Pataki in 2002, for his third and final term.
NEW YORK REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS COALESCE AROUND LEE ZELDIN FOR GOVERNOR
In New York, there are eight recognized political parties, and one candidate is allowed to run on multiple party lines if that individual is officially nominated and endorsed by each of those parties.
Often, New York candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties will also seek endorsements from smaller but more left-wing or right-wing parties to push out potential opponents, who may attempt to run as third-party candidates on those party lines.
Zeldin, who represents Suffolk County, on eastern Long Island, and was previously a state senator, is rapidly picking up Republican and Conservative Party county chair endorsements each day.
“I’ve been in frequent contact with a number of state legislators, former colleagues who aren’t in the State Legislature anymore, colleagues here in the House as well, and everyone’s been fantastic who I’ve spoken to, and they’re, they’re fired up, motivated,” Zeldin told the Washington Examiner. “They, they want Cuomo to go. New Yorkers across the state feel like he’s been there too long. It’s time for him to go, along with the scandals and abuse and the failed policies.”
Cuomo is seeking a fourth term as governor, but this election will undoubtedly be his hardest. Cuomo initially won laudatory news coverage for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic across New York state. But criticism soon piled up over allegations his administration covered up information pertaining to coronavirus deaths among nursing home residents. Then Cuomo was hit with a series of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations, with 10 women now making the accusations.
The New York State Republican Party, led by Nick Langworthy, is apparently beginning to rally behind Zeldin, according to a New York GOP source who told the Washington Examiner that the state party wants to recruit a candidate as early as possible.
However, Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York mayor and now former President Donald Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani, is reportedly planning to launch his own bid for governor. Andrew Giuliani is expected to meet with Trump next week in Mar-a-Lago to discuss this.
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Zeldin expects more endorsements from county chairmen from both the state’s Republican and Conservative Party committees in the coming days in hopes that he will surpass the 50% voter threshold soon so that he can bring to the nominating conventions of both parties early next year.
“We’re all about winning. I don’t have a slower gear. I will only just continue to work harder and harder every day,” Zeldin said.
