New York Republican MP Tom Reed says he is “definitely looking to” run next year against Governor Andrew Cuomo, when the three-term Democratic governor is running for re-election.
“People across the district, across the state, are saying ‘you need to take a look at this.’ I feel humble about it, but I’m also excited about it, “said the six-term deputy, who represents the southwest corner of New York State, in an interview with Fox News.
REED SAYS CUOMO ‘NEEDS TO BE TAKEN’
“Having the opportunity to do my part to serve and try to change the direction of the state, we are definitely looking at that,” said Reed.
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 15: Congressman Tom Reed, RN.Y., co-chair of Problem Solvers Caucus, arrives at the House Triangle outside the Capitol for a press conference on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. (Photo by Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Although he still maintains the poll numbers, Cuomo was politically hurt by the current COVID crisis in the state’s nursing home. The governor – who last year received national acclaim from Democrats and the media for his efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic – has suffered political consequences in recent weeks with revelations that his government has concealed the full extent of deaths related to nursing homes during the COVID crisis.
“Governor Cuomo needs to be overthrown,” Reed said in a radio interview on Friday with “On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla”.
He predicted that “Governor Cuomo’s days are numbered and need to be because the state of New York, not only on deaths in nursing homes, but the future of New York, does not have much more window to enter his order home tax . “
THE WATCHDOG REPORT SAYS THAT POLICY MAY HAVE MORE THAN 1,000 DEATHS IN NURSING CASES IN NY
In his interview with Fox News, hours later, Reed mentioned a death threat against his family during last year’s election. The congressman said that when it comes to a possible race for governor, “the most critical deciding factor is my family.”
Aiming for Cuomo’s re-election for a third term in 2018 by a wide 23-point margin in the trusted blue state, Reed acknowledged that challenging the governor “will be a herculean task. Governor Cuomo will have tens of millions of dollars. He already has $ 17 million in the bank. “
And he noted that “this will be a long-term commitment, so the sooner the better if we make the decision. We have a little time here, but we have to put our house in order, the Republican side of the equation.”
ZELDIN INSTALLING TO CHALLENGE CUOMO IN THE NEXT YEAR
Reed is not the only Republican member of the New York Congressional delegation who is being urged to challenge Cuomo.
Fox News was the first to report on Friday that Representative Lee Zeldin is being encouraged by influential Republicans to run.
“In the past 48 hours, a significant number of major donors and influential Republicans have contacted Lee Zeldin to ask him to face Cuomo,” a Republican consultant with the congressman told Fox News.
Zeldin – a four-term congressman who represents New York’s eastern half of Long Island – is a strong ally and supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a rising star in the party and another big Trump supporter who represents a district in the northern part of the state, is also seen as a potential candidate for governor.
Reed – a native New Yorker who lives in the house built by his grandfather – is known for his ability to cross the corridor and work with Democrats. He is a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the House.
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But Reed said he “was one of the first to endorse President Trump”. And he pointed out that he co-chaired Trump’s reelection effort in 2020 in New York State. He added that he is a “proud Republican” who still has “Tea Party support”.