Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, is unlikely to win the 2022 governor’s race. But he has created a Republican stronghold in the increasingly blue Empire State.
At the statewide level, Zeldin would seem to be a controversial right-wing politician. Recently, he has opposed making vaccines mandatory for reentry into public schools and higher education institutions, even though the latest polling data suggest that 62% of New Yorkers support a law that would require college students to be vaccinated.
Zeldin also voted in favor of the objections to the certification of Arizona and Pennsylvania’s electors despite 69% of New Yorkers believing that Joe Biden won the presidential election. It is important to note, though, that he has since acknowledged that Biden won the election legitimately.
He has also vocally defended the former president, decrying the first impeachment as a “charade” and a “BS effort by Adam Schiff.” Zeldin also voted against Trump’s second impeachment in 2021.
Despite his controversial positions and his defense of Trump, Zeldin has managed to build up a considerable base of support in New York’s 1st Congressional District, which he has represented for nearly seven years.
In that district, Zeldin has run largely on his bipartisan record in Congress, citing his environmental protection efforts, increased assistance for veterans, and funding for scientific research. The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School for Public Policy listed the congressman among the top 20 most bipartisan members of the House in 2020.
And for a Republican, Zeldin seems to be liked on both sides of the political spectrum. He has secured endorsements from a politically diverse array of organizations, such as local unions, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Animal Wellness Action, and the American Conservation Coalition.
The congressman also touts his accomplishments for his district. Zeldin’s congressional website highlights his efforts to secure $20 million in local cleanup efforts and to save three local sewer projects, among others. His campaign claims that he has resolved over 17,000 constituent cases during his time in office.
The lawmaker has also embraced a pro-police platform. Zeldin opposes defunding the police and supports giving the police a bill of rights. More importantly, he holds these positions in a district that is overwhelmingly supportive of the police. A survey conducted by the John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety found that almost 89% of Suffolk County residents, whom Zeldin represents, trusted the local police, and more than 84% believed that the police were fair.
And the veteran lawmaker’s efforts have helped turn a swing district into a reliable Republican stronghold in the Empire State. In the 2018 midterm elections that saw the country vote Democratic by 8.6 percentage points, Zeldin beat Democrat Perry Gershon by 4.1 points. And in 2020, he trounced his opponent by nearly 10 points, outperforming Trump, who essentially tied Biden there.
In the wake of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s nursing home scandal, Zeldin announced his bid for the executive mansion. Thus far, he has campaigned on increasingly widespread opposition to Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo, recently attending a “No More Cuomo” rally on Long Island.
But in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 2 to 1, Zeldin is not likely to win his bid to become governor. With more New Yorkers calling for Cuomo’s resignation, several Democrats are not ruling out a primary challenge. If such a challenge succeeds in knocking the beleaguered incumbent off the general election ballot, it will probably eliminate any chance of Zeldin winning the race.
Regardless of the outcome of the gubernatorial race, though, Zeldin’s past political success should not be totally dismissed. Through a unique combination of bipartisanship and prioritizing his constituents’ interests, Zeldin was able to remain a pro-Trump Republican in Democratic New York.
