Day Before Election, Sparks Fly In Zeldin/Gershon Race

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A day before the midterm elections, a contentious race continues to spark outcry.

A woman posted on the Suffolk Progressives Facebook page, stating that she received a mailer "postmarked from mid-island" urging residents to vote for Kate Browning in the race between incumbent Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican, who is running for his second term representing the 1st Congressional District, and his opponent, businessman and Democrat Perry Gershon.

The belief is that mailer urges individuals to vote for Browning to siphon votes from Gershon.

Browning responded on Facebook: "So the Zeldin camp is playing dirty tricks. I will repeat. I am not actively campaigning for me. I am supporting Perry Gershon. Ignore any fake mailers with no return address or paid for. He clearly has no integrity and will do anything for a vote. I support Perry Gershon for Congress."

Zeldin's campaign communications director Chris Boyle responded: "Just more baseless claims from another failed candidate. I guess everyone looks to attack you when you’re clearly up with all the momentum going into Election Day. We have zero idea who did this."

When asked to weigh in, Ali Dakich, Gershon spokesperson, replied, "Kate's statement speaks for itself."

Barbs have been flying in the days leading up to the election.

Zeldin blasted Gershon last week for a campaign mailer that elicited outrage.

The mailer features a hanger and the words: "Lee Zeldin's plan for women's healthcare." Gershon, in at least one debate, has said women's rights and Roe v. Wade are threatened under the current administration.

It's not the first time a mailer has sparked tempers in what's shaped up to be an acrimonious campaign season. A Zeldin mailer listing the wrong date for absentee ballots caused backlash.

Tensions continued to rise as Zeldin maintained that a college student was "assaulted" by a Gershon staffer — and Gershon campaign signs were defaced with the words "Baby Killer" and "Gay Lover."

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.