Millions of dollars and thousands of hours of volunteering later, the months-long Republican congressional primaries for Long Island’s First (NY-1) and Second (NY-2) Congressional Districts have concluded with the Suffolk GOP-backed candidates in each race prevailing.
The vote totals released the evening of August 23 are as follows:
Now, official Republican candidate Nick LaLota can expect to face Democrat and County Legislator Bridget Fleming in the fall for Congressman Lee Zeldin’s open seat. Zeldin declined to run again to pursue a gubernatorial run against Governor Kathy Hochul, creating a three-way primary pitting LaLota, Michelle Bond and Anthony Figliola against one another.
“I got here because of your support – because of my family’s support,” said LaLota as he addressed onlookers at the Portuguese American Cultural Center.
LaLota thanked fellow candidate Anthony Figliola for putting “his heat and soul into the race” and then commenced a round of applause for his former opponent.
‘Bon(d) Voyage’
A LaLota victory was hardly assured. Having been outspent and out-fundraised, his main opponent, Michelle Bond, utilized ‘grassroots’ supporters and her deep-pocketed connections in an ill-fated attempt to win the seat. As per the latest FEC filings, Bond spent $547,797.07 from her campaign fund alone, with LaLota placing the final figure at $1.2 million. This does not include PACs and Super PACs aligned with her, with their total spending reaching in excess of $3.1 million.
LaLota took aim at several of these PACs supporting “Maryland Michelle Bond” in his victory speech and noting the amount spent by each, such as Crypto Freedom PAC ($287,000), Crypto Innovation PAC ($1.3 million), Stand for New York PAC ($754,000). The last PAC being incorporated in Texas.
The stark spending difference was noticeable as Bond’s advertisements dominated the airwaves and filled the mailboxes of registered Republicans throughout NY-1. One such advertisement, as reported by The Messenger online, contained a derogatory depiction of Nick LaLota’s Italian heritage and was sent out by a Stand for New York PAC. The result was a statement made by the Italian American Political Action Committee (I AM PAC) denouncing the advert.
Despite the spending difference, institutional GOP support for LaLota never wavered, even as Bond collected three big-name endorsements from out-of-state names – Senator Ted Cruz, Donald Trump Jr., and Kimberly Guilfoyle. These endorsements, her opponents’ supporters claim, came with price tags and speaking fees, undermining the validity and sincerity.
“We had a newcomer who had $3 million of outside, dark money thrown on his head,” said Suffolk County Republican Chairman Jesse Garcia, “but the Republican volunteers said, ‘money doesn’t buy elections in Suffolk County.’”
There were three debates in the district that LaLota and Figliola both attended by various third party organizations. Bond declined these invitations due to scheduling conflicts.
Bond’s one major speaking engagement was a free event featuring Ted Cruz that her supporters maintain was “PACKED,” yet even high-profile guests evidently could not bring her across the finish line.
Fleming, who had the benefit of her primary concluding before the ballot box, has approximately $305,180 on-hand, as per the last FEC filing, with much more expected to be raised now that her opponent is finally known.
The volatile nature of the GOP primary might have lingering negative effects that Fleming had the fortune of avoiding, with voters untainted by the months of negative advertisements plaguing LaLota.
Seemingly cognizant of the severity of the primary, LaLota extended an olive branch to the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, who endorsed Bond, and other organizations’ members that did not support him on the campaign trail as he pivoted to his general election opponent.
Second Congressional District: Garbarino Easily Defeats Challengers
Congressman Andrew Garbarino faced a difficult primary, albeit for different reasons. While lacking a deep-pocketed opponent, he had a genuine grassroots front against his candidacy from two fronts.
Garbarino’s main primary opponent, Robert Cornicelli, likened Garbarino to Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over his voting record as a member of the congressional minority.
Several inaccurate rumors were in circulation over Garbarino’s voting record, such as his votes on the Build Back Better plan and the Democratic Party proposed January 6th commission, both of which he voted against.
Garbarino also faced Mike Rakebrandt, who, like Cornicelli, attempted to run as a more legitimate Republican in the post-Trump era.
Garbarino, as LaLota did, ran with the support of the institutional Suffolk County GOP. “
Thank you so much Chairman Garcia for this huge victory tonight in Suffolk County,” said Garbarino.
Additionally, his hometown Republican Committee, the Islip GOP, mobilized around his candidacy against both oppositional candidates.
According to one Islip Republican insider, they always felt confident about Garbarino’s chances of victory, despite traction gained by Cornicelli.
Garbarino will now face Jackie Gordon this fall in the general election. The district still leans ever so slightly to the Republican side, but not nearly as much as it did prior to redistricting. With the incorporation of Babylon and even a smidge of Nassau County, Garbarino has new territory to brace if he hopes to pull off another victory against Gordon.
“We need to say enough is enough and fire Nancy Pelosi,” said Garbarino, as he pivots toward the general election. He went further on to define his platform of securing the border and supporting law enforcement.
Gordon has an impressive resume as a Veteran, educator, and community leader, and has performed better than any Democrat has in the district since 2010 in her 2020 run.
