VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-01) headlined the Broome County Republican Committee’s annual Lincoln Day dinner Wednesday.
Speaking to a crowd of several hundred people, the Long Island Republican called on Broome County Republicans to help drive turnout in the Southern Tier leading into the midterm race this fall.
“There is a mentality where some people might decide not to go vote because they think voters in Brooklyn and the Bronx and Queens and Manhattan, they’ll decide who the next governor is," Zeldin said. "Well that attitude is what ends up letting these four counties decide who the next governor is.”
Zeldin has been endorsed by a vast majority of county Republican committees and other prominent Republicans, though former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Andrew Giuliani remain in the race.
Zeldin also said the timeline to announce his pick to run alongside him for lieutenant governor will be “imminent.”
Wednesday’s event included remarks from several other prominent Republicans including Dutchess County Executive Mark Molinaro, who is running for the newly revised 19th Congressional District, which now includes Binghamton.
Others in attendance included former Binghamton mayor and State Senate candidate Rich David, current state senator and Broome County sheriff candidate Fred Akshar, Attorney General candidate John Sarcone, and U.S. Senate candidate Joe Pinion.