Zeldin Prepares To Throw Hat in Ring To Lead the GOP

The congressman argues Republican victories in the New York midterms provide a roadmap to transform the party.

James Carbone/Newsday via AP, file
Congressman Lee Zeldin on June 28, 2022 at Mastic Beach, New York. James Carbone/Newsday via AP, file

New York Republican victories in last week’s midterms make Representative Lee Zeldin the logical candidate to take over Republican Party leadership from Ronna Romney McDaniel, the congressman is arguing.

Although Mr. Zeldin did not win his bid for governor, Republicans did well in New York by historical standards, picking up four congressional seats. Mr. Zeldin’s native Long Island provided an especially bright spot, with the entire island turning red. 

While Mr. Zeldin has not formally decided to run, he indicated in an email to Republican National Committee members only hours ago his intent to challenge Ms. McDaniel as leader of the committee.

According to the email, shared with the Sun, Mr. Zeldin has been flooded with requests to run. He writes to the members of the Republican National Committee that “due to the amount of requests I have received” from “both inside and outside” of the committee about running for the chairmanship, he is “very seriously considering your requests.”

Mr. Zeldin then lays out his vision for leadership, arguing that Republican success in New York in 2022, under his leadership, provides a template for Republican success nationally in 2024. The GOP, Mr. Zeldin argues, needs to “examine why we have not been as successful in elections across the country as we were in New York — a traditionally Democratic stronghold — this year.”

Especially because, the congressman continues, “on every one” of the issues, “the American people agree that our approach will lead to a safer, more prosperous country for our families.”

Which issues? He touches on everything from illegal immigration, “wasting money” on far-left priorities, trading “American energy dominance for a Green New Deal pipe dream,” and allowing crime “to run rampant from our cities to our suburbs.”

“The Republican Party,” Mr. Zeldin says, “not only should … compete in all 50 states, and ensure we are driving up turnout within our base, but we also need to go to all communities no matter how blue they are, show up often, build relationships, and advance our proposals on education, upward economic mobility, housing, mental health, public safety, and more.”

“This means making sure people know what we stand for, and not just what we are against,” the congressman says.

“The effectiveness and success of this vision,” Mr. Zeldin continues, “is reflected in the Red Wave that decimated Democrats in New York this cycle, flipping four Congressional seats from blue to red — the most in the entire country — and taking out the Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, while also holding several key targeted House seats in the state.”​​

Correction: Ronna Romney McDaniel is the name of the Republican National Committee chairwoman. The name was misspelled in an earlier version.


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