New York Republican MP Lee Zeldin says he is “actively exploring” a race for governor next year, while Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple sexual harassment charges, as well as a federal investigation into how the state dealt with COVID deaths in nursing homes. the coronavirus pandemic.
“With his cover-up and abuse in the nursing home increasingly showing up, of course #CuomosGottaGo. As a NYer, I cannot sit still while Cuomo attacks our freedoms, our wallets and our security. After many messages of encouragement and discussion with my family, I am actively exploring a 2022 race for NY governor, “Zeldin – a four-term congressman representing the eastern half of New York’s Long Island – tweeted on Tuesday.
FIRST ON FOX NEWS: ZELDIN ENCOURAGED TO SEEK BY THE GOVERNOR
In an interview with Fox News a few hours later, Zeldin reiterated that “I am now actively exploring the race for governor”.
“I believe that the Republicans will resume the Chamber in 2022, therefore, with the reality that, if I run for governor, I will not run for re-election to the Chamber, I just want to make this dispute if it is a candidacy we can make and win” emphasized the deputy.
“If the calls happen with all these text messages, emails and calls in the past few days and weeks of contacts, I will be more encouraged and motivated because New Yorkers are ready for a change,” he noted.
Zeldin said his next step will be to make “statewide calls to speak to Republican and Conservative Party leaders, elected officials, former elected officials, others who may be in leadership positions in law enforcement, veteran groups. , other organizations, to get everyone’s opinion and perspective on an application. “
He stressed that “nothing motivates me in the idea of finishing second. I like what I do in the Chamber. I am in the fourth term. I am moving up in seniority”.
“I just want to do this race if it is a race that we can do and win. If the calls are the way all of these texts, emails and calls have happened in the last few days and weeks of people arriving, I will only grow more encouraged and motivated that New Yorkers are ready for a change, “he said.
Fox News was the first to report two weeks ago that Zeldin was being encouraged by prominent Republican and donor leaders to launch a government campaign.
Zeldin, a lawyer and US Army Reserve officer, was first elected to the Suffolk County congressional district in 2014. He was an ally and defender of President Trump during his four years at the White House.
FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON CUOMO CONTROVERSY
Zeldin said he spoke to Trump “since he left the White House because of a number of topics”.
Asked if he is seeking Trump’s endorsement, Zeldin said, “I am confident that if I ran, I would have your support, but I don’t want to speak for him.”
Although New York is a trusted state, where Cuomo won re-election for a third term in 2018 by a whopping 23 points, the governor was politically wounded by the current crisis in the state’s nursing home, COVID. Cuomo, who last year won national accolades from Democrats and the media for his efforts to fight the pandemic, has suffered severe political repercussions in recent weeks with revelations that his government has hidden the full extent of deaths related to nursing homes during the crisis of COVID.
And that was before allegations of sexual harassment in the past few days by three younger women – including two former Cuomo aides, made national headlines. New York Attorney General Letitia James opened an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo. On Monday, Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York asked the governor to step down.
GOP REP. REED SAYS HE IS “DEFINITELY LOOKING” FOR NY GUBERNATORIAL RUN
Zeldin is not the only Republican member of the New York Congress who is considering running for governor. Congressman Tom Reed – who represents a district in the far west of the state – told Fox News two weeks ago that he is “definitely looking” to run for governor in 2022. And Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a rising star in the party, has not discarded a bid.