Zeldin, the DeSantis Rally draws a big crowd on Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — A sea of ​​supporters turned out on Long Island Saturday night for a “Get Out The Vote” rally for Lee Zeldin — who is facing incumbent Kathy Hochul in the gubernatorial race — with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as an invitee.

Alison Esposito, the GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, also attended the Hauppauge event, held at Zeldin's campaign headquarters. The New York Post reported that Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin will join Zeldin Monday in Westchester for another rally.

A cheering crowd of thousands of supporters often broke into chants of “Zeldin! Zeldin!” Turned out.

Zeldin took the stage with his wife and twin teenage daughters. “Are you ready to fire Kathy Hochul? Ten more days – a week and a half to go and we have this incredible opportunity to save our state!” Zeldin said.

His remark was met with loud cheers.

During the rally, Zeldin raised issues around which he has focused his platform. New York, he said, leads the nation in “immigration … The state is at a tipping point.”

New Yorkers, Zeldin said, are being hit hard for their wallets, their safety, their freedom and the quality of their children's education. “New Yorkers are looking elsewhere and seeing where their money will go farther and where they'll feel safer and live more freely. That's why New York is leading the nation in population loss. We have an opportunity in 10 days to turn it around. “

He added, “We're not going anywhere,” Zeldin said. “We stay to fight for our state — to take it back in 10 days.”

Zeldin also addressed the one-on-one conversation he and Hotchul had last week, discussing his position on declaring a state of emergency against crime in New York. He vowed to put the brakes on cashless bail and roll back bail reform. Hochul has spoken about the need to get illegal guns off the streets.

Zeldin, at the rally, also reiterated his pledge to remove New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg on his first day in office. Zeldin accused Bragg of saying he wasn't going to enforce various laws and singled out Jose Alba, an employee charged with murder after stabbing an assailant.

In the debate, Hotchul replied that Zeldin could not “kick out someone you don't agree with” and that a legislator had to abide by the will of the people.

Kathy Hotchul, Zeldin said, was never elected governor. “She was lieutenant governor and she's filling out the remainder of someone else's term, but she's acting like she's running for her 15th term. It's important to be humble.”

In his 20th year in the military, currently in the Army Reserves, Zeldin outranks many and is a reminder to stay grounded.

Looking out at the hundreds gathered, he said, “We started planning this event yesterday,” noting the “energy and momentum we have. We're moving forward. We're not looking back. Losing this fight is not an option.”

Zeldin also spoke about his feelings about the COVID mandates and vaccines. “My position is, if you want it, take it. If you don't want it, don't. But don't do it because you're serving me. There shouldn't be a COVID vaccine mandate for anyone, at any level, for any reason, anywhere. And everyone who was laid off to get their jobs back with back pay,” he said. “One day 1, every COVID order that we can get rid of will be gone.”

Zeldin also said he supports reversing the ban on safe natural gas extraction in New York State.

He also joked about how actor Mark Ruffalo “hurt his feelings” with one post on Twitter telling Zeldin to “Frack off” and urging people to vote Hochul out and keep drinking water safe.

“Leonardo DiCaprio retweeted it. I was crushed. I was humbled,” Zeldin said. “And then Amy Shumer tweeted it. I just had to be out with my friends tonight to recover from the devastating impact.”

Zeldin said the reason why fighting crime was so important to him was his family. discussed a recent gang shooting that took place outside his home while his daughters were home alone doing homework.

“All over this state, people want to get their roads back,” Zeldin said. “They are upset that DAs are releasing violent criminals to run free.”

Zeldin then introduced DeSantis to cheers.

“Are you ready to save New York State? Are you ready to elect Lee Zeldin as your governor?” DeSantis asked. “I'm so happy to be here. It's great in politics when you don't have to choose between the lesser of two evils and you can support a strong, capable candidate. Lee Zledin is that man. He's a veteran, with very strong values ​​and , more importantly, he's capable of leadership, which you need more than anything else, especially outside of the governor's office.”

DeSantis discussed his own record, recalling when he stood “strong” against the COVID orders.

“Lee Zeldin will make the same decisions to protect your freedom that I made to protect the people of Florida,” he said.

He added: “Florida is a law and order state and I am a law and order governor. If Lee Zeldin takes office, New York will become a state of law and order — and he will be the ruler of law and order.”

The crowd started chanting “Zeldin!” one time profit.

Zeldin, DeSantis said, will defend law enforcement. He also said Zeldin would fight back against the COVID vaccine and mask mandates in schools and support parents' rights. He also spoke out against “child indoctrination” and critical theories of race.

DeSantis also spoke out against permissive gender ideology in elementary schools.

After the rally, Hotchul's campaign responded in a statement, according to Politico: “Ron DeSandis and Glenn Youngkin are prime examples of far-right Republicans who have worked to roll back abortion rights and bring more guns into their communities. Lee Zeldin was cut from the same extremist cloth.”

Concluding his remarks, DeSantis said. “If you're tired of the same old, same old story, you have the power to turn the page. You have the power to elect Lee Zeldin as the next governor of the state of New York. This will be the 21st century version of the shot heard in Worldwide”.