| The Republican Nominee Commits Election Fraud, Makes Sexist Comments, and Hides His Latest Fundraising Numbers |
| Republican nominee Lee Zeldin’s week has been on a downhill slope and it’s somehow only gotten worse. First, the Board of Elections rejected Zeldin from occupying the Independent Party ballot line after discovering his campaign allegedly photocopied over 11,000 duplicate petition signatures. Then Zeldin was exposed for appearing on Newsmax, smirking as host Greg Kelly made sexist and disparaging comments about Governor Hochul. Zeldin wrapped up his disastrous week by hiding his latest campaign fundraising numbers after the governor announced an $11.7 million war chest. What People are Saying About Lee Zeldin’s Disastrous Week: City & State: “Rep. Lee Zeldin made a national name for himself by fanning unfounded and false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. But in his race for governor, he may now be a perpetrator of fraud after the Libertarian Party claimed that his campaign photocopied petition signatures.” Gotham Gazette: “‘The Zeldin campaign’s attempt to defraud the electorate and pose as an independent campaign by filing thousands of photocopied signatures is a slap in the face to New York State voters and the election process,’ Kolstee said in a statement in a Libertarian Party’s email sent to members and press.” The Hill: “But the Libertarian Party of New York mounted a challenge to the additional ballot line attempt by Zeldin’s campaign, alleging that ‘over 900 sheets, containing over 11,000 signatures were merely photocopies of original sheets,’ according to a press release from the party on Thursday.” Newsday: “‘Republicans talk a lot about election integrity, but the Zeldin campaign attempted to fly under the radar and submit over 11,000 fraudulent signatures in an attempt to get a third line on the ballot,’ Andrew Kolstee, the Libertarian secretary, said in a statement.” Newsweek: “Republican Who Pushed 2020 Election Fraud Claims Accused of Election Fraud.” New York Magazine: “There are a lot of reasons why promoting Trump’s bogus concerns about ‘election integrity’ was a bad idea, but here’s one Zeldin probably didn’t anticipate: It makes it really easy for your opponents to label you a hypocrite when your gubernatorial campaign submits a remarkable number of invalid signatures.” The New York Post:“Newsmax host Greg Kelly faced growing criticism Thursday over a remark he made about Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul while trying to boost the candidacy of her Republican rival Rep. Lee Zeldin ahead of the November election. […] A clip of the Kelly-Zeldin exchange quickly got thousands of views online as Democratic elected officials and others took advantage of its momentum — blasting Kelly while also leveraging his comment against Zeldin.” POLITICO Playbook:“Newsmax’s Greg Kelly, while interviewing Hochul’s Republican opponent Rep. Lee Zeldin, suggested ‘Kathy Hochul has not really done much of anything, other than, I’m sorry, but, be somebody’s wife…’ […] Hochul, in response to the clip, quote tweeted ‘If you’re looking for a label to give me, you can just call me “Governor.”’” Talking Points Memo: “Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), a Trump ally who pushed lies about fraud in the 2020 election and who is now running as New York’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, has been booted from the Independence Party line on the state’s ballot over thousands of invalid petition signatures.” Congressman Jamaal Bowman: “.@leezeldin has no substance to run on so he resorts to sexism, lies and fear mongering as per usual with the Republican Party. @GovKathyHochul has more character and leadership in her pinky than you have in your whole body. Your patriarchy is obsolete.” State Senator Anna Kaplan: “When I ran for office, people asked me ‘but who is going to cook dinner for your family?’ Every woman knows what misogyny looks like, and this is it.” Congresswoman Grace Meng: “Some people can’t handle seeing a woman in a more influential position than them. Well they better get used to it. And that’s Madame Governor to you.” Congresswoman Kathleen Rice: “Attorney. Town Board. County Clerk. Congresswoman. Lieutenant Governor. Governor. THAT’S a resume.” Assemblywoman Latrice Walker: “Listen to the misogyny spewing from Greg Kelly’s mouth. Equally reprehensible is Lee Zeldin’s failure to correct him. @GovKathyHochul is the highest-ranking official in NY and she’s attacked for being a wife, for being a woman. That sums up Zeldin’s views on women.” Rebecca Lewis: “Rep. Lee Zeldin has pitched himself as the ‘election integrity’ candidate. Then came allegations of 11,000 photocopied petition signatures. His campaign said it was not aware of any photocopies, nor did it make any.” Josh Solomon: “New: U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, GOP nominee for governor, had his bid to also run on the Independence Party upended by the NYS Board of Elections. Nearly 13,000 signatures were invalidated. Zeldin has pitched himself as the candidate for ‘election integrity.’” Joseph Spector: “.@GovKathyHochul announces $11.7M in her campaign warchest heading into the fall against GOP candidate @leezeldin after spending heavily in Democratic primary last month. No numbers yet from Zeldin…” Stonewall Democrats of NYC:“There once was a candidate named Lee, Who blurted “election integrity”, But his petitions were fake, Photocopies they did make, Just another day for the G.O.P.” |
