Brooklyn political club that backed Bill de Blasio endorses Lee Zeldin for N.Y. governor
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Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin netted an unusual endorsement Monday from a Brooklyn political club that has a history of supporting Democrats — including former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The Bensonhurst-based New Era Democrats threw its weight behind Zeldin because “there has to be a change” in Albany, said club president John Orlando.
“It’s about our safety. It’s about our children. It’s about being able to live here,” Orlando told reporters during an endorsement press conference in Brooklyn with the Republican Long Island congressman.
Orlando claimed Gov. Hochul “doesn’t see what’s in front of her” when it comes to crime-fighting and argued Zeldin would do a better job at keeping New Yorkers safe.
Zeldin, one of former President Donald Trump’s most loyal defenders in Congress, said the club’s support indicates New Yorkers are disillusioned with Democratic leadership.
“There are a lot of New Yorkers who are in this city right now who realize that this is it,” Zeldin said. “They are thinking about not even staying here in this city, in this state if we don’t win this race.”
De Blasio received the New Era Democrats’ endorsement for his 2013 mayoral campaign, during which he fashioned himself as a staunch progressive alternative to ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The group’s website still features a photo of de Blasio on its main landing page. The website also lists de Blasio as the recipient of the club’s “founder’s award” in 2005, when he was a member of the City Council.
Zeldin isn’t the first Republican to get backing from the New Era Democrats, though. The group, whose membership roll at one point included former Republican state Sen. Marty Golden, endorsed Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki for mayor and governor, respectively, in the 1990s.
De Blasio did not return a request for comment Monday, and neither did a spokeswoman for Hochul, who’s considered the favorite in New York’s Nov. 8 gubernatorial election.
Asked how he justifies supporting a conservative like Zeldin despite the club’s record of backing Democrats, Orlando said the organization has never been totally loyal to one party.
“We’ve always been independent,” he said. “We have to take the moment that we’re in now.”
