Zeldin, Goroff In Dead-Heat Congressional Race

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — With hours left until Election Day, incumbent Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Nancy Goroff are in a dead heat race to the finish line as they vie for the 1st Congressional District seat in one of the most heated races nationwide.

Polling indicates that in the final weeks before Election Day, the race between Zeldin and Goroff was almost a tie: Zeldin was preferred by 49 percent of respondents and Goroff by 48 percent, according to the most recent data reported by FiveThirtyEight.com.

The survey was done by the 314 Action Fund, which works to elect scientists, doctors and professionals. The poll results were based on a telephone survey of 402 likely November voters in the 1st District and conducted October 5 through 8, 2020. The data was subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, according to GQRR.com.

After the poll results were released, Lance Trover, campaign representative for Zeldin, told the East Hampton Star that it was just a "garbage poll conducted and funded by Democrats to lure donors into funding a losing campaign being run by a radical professor who has several dangerous anti-police and other far-left positions."

Zeldin, 40, is a Republican born and raised in Shirley. He is running for his fourth term and his campaign has focused on his military service, support for law enforcement and veterans, a tough stance on immigration, fighting gang violence (including MS-13), growing jobs and the economy, and getting to the other side of the pandemic.

Goroff, 52, of Stony Brook, is a scientist, and has spoken out for the need to look to the facts and address climate change, the fight for affordable health care for all, and gun safety.

Zeldin's tenure has been marked by speculation about his reported loyalty to President Donald Trump. Donald Trump Jr. was a guest at Zeldin's political fundraiser; Zeldin has greeted the president as he landed on the East End for fundraising events. Zeldin also was included in a immigration forum Trump held on Long Island that focused on eradicating gang violence.

Zeldin said he is proud of his ability to reach consensus with both sides of the political aisle on issues including helicopter noise, Plum Island, and getting personal protective equipment to Long Island during the pandemic.

Looking at campaign contributions, Zeldin has raised $7,490,828, spent $5,597,154 and has $1,918,246 onhand, according to the most report by the Center for Responsive Politics,.

Goroff, the report indicates, has raised $5,857,735, spent, $5,434,291, and has $423,443 in her campaign coffers.

The race has considerable implications. Although Democrats lead over Republicans on Long Island, that's not the case in the 1st Congressional District, where the GOP still has a higher number of registered voters: With a total of 558,664 registered voters in the district, according to the New York State Board of Elections, there are 167,547 Republicans and 165,334 Democrats, with 11,593 registered members of the Conservative Party, 1,915 members of the Working Families Party, 1,035 members of the Green Party, 951 of the Libertarian Party, 22,615 of the Independence Party, and 142,236 blanks.

A recent report by The New York Times stated that the race could redefine Long Island, with Trump's "weakened hold" on the area centering on two key races in the spotlight, including the Zeldin race and the fact that Peter King, who is the Republican with the longest tenure in the congressional delegation on Long Island, not seeking re-election.

According to The Times report, the Zeldin and King races are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program. Other factors that could lead to a Democratic victory include "President Trump’s deepening unpopularity; the growing number of Democrats in the area;" and King's decision not to run, the NYT said.

In 2018, Zeldin won a race over opponent Perry Gershon by 4 percentage points; he bested challenger Anna Throne-Holst, a former Southampton Town Supervisor, for the seat in 2016 by 16 points.

Countdown is on

Speaking to Patch, Lance Trover, a representative for Zeldin's campaign, described the positive momentum going into the final hours.

"We are confident given his record of delivering for Long Island families that Congressman Zeldin will be re-elected," Trover said. "Congressman Zeldin is ranked the 12th most bipartisan Congressman in America by Georgetown University and the Lugar Center, because he is willing to work with anyone to find common ground however possible. Whether it's coronavirus response resources, the $2 billion Election Ion Collider headed now to Brookhaven National Laboratory, combating MS-13, and much more, Congressman Zeldin's work with the administration has helped him deliver for his congressional district, just like how Congressman Zeldin's work with Democrats helped him get the Great American Outdoors Act over the finish line, full funding for the National Estuary Program and SeaGrant, permanent funding for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and many other important priorities."

Jesse Garcia, chair of the Suffolk County Republican Party, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Rich Shaffer, Suffolk County Democratic Committee chairman, also shared his thoughts with Patch: "All indications show the race between Nancy Goroff and Lee Zeldin will be incredibly close. Long Island families were hit hard by the pandemic and were let down by President Trump and his number one defender Lee Zeldin," he said. "Nancy’s background as a scientist and leader in her community is exactly what voters are looking for — a representative who will follow science and facts to solve our complex local and national problems."

Shaffer added: "We’re seeing a ton of enthusiasm from early and absentee voters with more than half of the votes so far being Democratic registrants."

Hannah Jeffrey, representative for the Goroff campaign, told Patch: "It's clear that Nancy's goals of bringing back facts to governing and following science to make important policy decisions resonate with Long Islanders more than what Lee Zeldin is offering. Rep. Zeldin has chosen to defend President Trump's reckless handling of the pandemic, and every other terrible decision and statement that the president has made, rather than working to solve problems for the people of this district."

The 1st Congressional District includes most of central and eastern Suffolk County, including the East End, Brookhaven Town, and most of Smithtown. View the district map here.

Gloves off at debates

Tensions escalated at a recent League of Women Voters debate between Zeldin and Goroff. The candidates sparred on issues ranging from affordable health care and the coronavirus response to campaign ads.

Zeldin blasted Goroff, saying she has supported defunding the police.

"My opponent is spreading lies," Goroff said, adding Zeldin relies on "divisive" rhetoric.

She added, "Of course, I do not support defunding the police; the police play a very integral role in keeping us safe." But she said, there needs to be a focus on addressing systemic racism as well as implementing programs to better handle long-term social service issues, including addiction and domestic violence, rather than "asking police to solve those problems at the end of a 911 call."

Zeldin maintained Goroff refused to condemn rioting and looting against police, called police dangerous, would send people who aren't police officers to domestic violence scenes, and has shown up at protests with signs and spoke out against riot gear for police. He also said his opponent supported cashless bail nationally and mass prison release, including for "violent" criminals.

Law enforcement is "personal to him," Zeldin said, as he grew up in a law enforcement family and served in the military.

Goroff responded: "Once again, Mr. Zeldin is telling stories for political expedience instead of talking about facts. I am against rioting. I am against looting. I am against letting violent criminals on the street ... But that doesn't mean we can't do better. We must do better for people of color."

The two also battled over the issue of 314 Action ads Zeldin said have run, saying that he approved of abortion even when the life of the mother is at risk, and that he voted against IUDs, both of which he said were untrue. He said Goroff should tell the group to take down the "dishonest" ads.

Goroff said she is not responsible fo the ads the group ran.

"But you are responsible for your campaign ads and your campaign is advertising that I want to defund the police," she said. "Take your own ads down now."

Why they're running

Both candidates spoke with Patch about why they are running.

"Suffolk County deserves a representative who will trust science and use facts and evidence to tackle the serious problems our community faces, like combating the deadly pandemic, lowering prescription drug costs, protecting healthcare coverage for those with preexisting conditions, and addressing climate change," Goroff said.

Said Zeldin, "I was born and raised on Long Island. With my family, I now live just a few blocks from where I grew up.

"In the Army, I served four years on active duty, and have spent the last 13 in the Army Reserve where I currently serve as a Lt. Colonel. In the past, I've been a military intelligence officer, prosecutor, magistrate and a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.

"I'm ranked the 12th most bipartisan congressman in America and I'll work with anyone to find common ground however possible.

"Ten of my legislative proposals have now been signed into law, helping our disabled veterans, addressing helicopter routes, improving maritime safety, improving access to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs, and more. I support key proposals to lower prescription drug costs, cover individuals with pre-existing conditions, and protect public safety. I've secured approvals and federal funding for many NY-1 infrastructure projects and my office has successfully resolved 15,000 constituent cases. These are real results for Long Island.

"We have more work to do to continue growing jobs and our economy, strengthening our national security, ending the pandemic, improving healthcare, and backing our amazing men and women in blue."

To read Goroff's candidate interview with Patch, click here. For Zeldin's candidate interview, click here.

This article originally appeared on the North Fork Patch