Lee Zeldin in 2022 NY Governor's race
On Foreign Policy:
Congressional report on hate speech in Palestinian textbooks
A bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress reviewing textbooks produced by the Palestinian Authority. Rep. Brad Sherman
sponsored the bill along with Lee Zeldin, Josh Gottheimer, Brian Mast and David Trone. There are concerns that such textbooks "include language and imagery that encourage violence and hatred toward other nations and ethnic groups," Sherman said.
Source: The Jerusalem Post on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Apr 7, 2021
On Government Reform:
Voted to overturn 2020 presidential election results
In his campaign announcement video, Mr. Zeldin made no mention of Mr. Trump, instead seeking to keep his message focused on quality-of-life concerns and economic matters and lacing into Mr. Cuomo.
But there is no doubt about how deeply he has embraced Mr. Trump and his politics, including by voting to overturn the results of the November election.
Source: New York Times on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Apr 8, 2021
On Government Reform:
Opposed For the People Act expanding voting rights
I can't believe that Republicans are trying to position the For the People Act of 2021 as partisan. The purpose is to make voting easier for all eligible Americans. It sets up automatic voter registration, ensures early voting, and allows
for "no excuse" mail-in voting. The bill passed the House without any Republican support--with both Long Island congressional Republicans, Andrew Garbarino and Lee Zeldin, voting "no" to making it easier for all eligible Americans to vote.
Source: Long Island Newsday on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Mar 31, 2021
On Government Reform:
Signed onto Texas suit challenging 2020 election
Zeldin is one of two Republican members of Congress from New York who have joined in supporting a lawsuit brought by Texas officials seeking to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election.
He was on Trump's legal defense team during his impeachment hearings earlier this year. The Long Island congressman was joined in signing onto the amicus brief by New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Source: WSHU Public Radio on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Aug 24, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Never experienced antisemitism, including within GOP
Zeldin defended the Republican Party against allegations of antisemitism in its ranks, "I, personally, haven't encountered any antisemitism within the Republican Party," Zeldin, who is one of two Jewish Republican members of
Congress, said. "From a personal perspective, I can tell you--from kindergarten through 12th grade, college, law school and four years of active duty, I never once experienced antisemitism at all."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Aug 24, 2020
On Tax Reform:
NY gone dark from taxes, lost jobs, suffocating regulations
[On partisanship]: "With one-party Democrat rule in New York City and Albany, the light that once shone as a beacon of what America can be has gone dark," he said. "The New York that was once a magnet for the world's best and brightest is
now forcing its own to leave under the crushing weight of skyrocketing taxes, lost jobs, suffocating regulations, and rising crime resulting from dangerously liberal policies."
Source: New York Times on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Apr 8, 2021
On Abortion:
Overturning Roe is moot: NY has strict abortion rights
[In Zeldin's debate with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul], the Republican came under consistent attack over his anti-abortion policy views & celebration of the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Zeldin has argued the issue is moot: New York
state has passed strict abortion rights protections and, even if he wanted to, he could not change them.Still, he did not directly answer a question from the moderators asking whether he would sign off on new restrictions if Republicans took hold of
the state legislature--something Zeldin insisted was immaterial because "it's not happening."
Hochul returned to the issue frequently, touting the state law and promising to protect it from conservative politicians like Zeldin. "What we have in New
York is simply a codification of Roe v. Wade," Hochul said, when asked if she would put any restrictions on abortion. She then added, "You know why nothing changed the day after the Dobbs decision? It's because I'm the governor of New York and he's not."
Source: CNN Politics on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
On Crime:
Gun control measures won't reduce crime
Crime has emerged as the central talking point of the election and that held for large portions of the gubernatorial debate, with Zeldin criticizing Hochul for not taking more aggressive steps to combat its rise. Hochul responded by talking up various
initiatives but also frequently tried to turn the tables on the Republican, pointing to his opposition to gun control measures."I'm running to take back our streets," Zeldin said in the first volley of the debate.
Hochul dismissed her opponent's
attacks as vague and cynical. "You can work on keeping people scared or on keeping people safe," she said, adding, "There is no crime fighting plan if it doesn't include guns."
Zeldin sought to pivot off the gun argument by noting that firearms didn't play a role in many recent hate crimes or when innocent bystanders have, in recent months, been pushed on to subway tracks.
Source: CNN Politics on 2022 New York Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2022
On Government Reform:
Rogue state officials made unconstitutional voting changes
Zeldin voted against the certification of Biden's victories in Arizona and Pennsylvania. In his speech that day, January 6, 2021, he claimed that he was objecting because "rogue" state officials had made "unlawful and unconstitutional"
changes to elections policies. The Zeldin campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 New York Governor race
Sep 9, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023