NY Gov Hopeful Andrew Giuliani To Speak On Long Island

BELLPORT, NY — New York gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Guiliani has been slated to speak Thursday night in the congressional district of U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin who has received the GOP's nod to run in November.

Giuliani, the son of former Donald Trump advisor and New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, will speak at an event for Restore America NY at the Bellport Country Club. Giuliani served as a special assistant and associate director of the Office of Public Liaison during the administration of Trump.

In a statement to Patch on Wednesday, Giuliani said: "grassroots organizations from all over New York have invited me to connect with voters who are concerned about skyrocketing crime, an education system beholden to the teachers union, and the struggles of small businesses. As New York’s next governor, I will fix all three of those problems, starting on Day One.”

Zeldin's campaign did not respond to a request for comment about Giuliani's appearance in Bellport.

The Associated Press reported that Zeldin walked out to greet supporters at the GOP's convention at the Garden City Hotel on Tuesday to the song, “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khaled, telling the crowd, "The Republican party is back, baby!"

Zeldin, a Shirley resident who represents the majority of Suffolk County, told supporters there is a battle for the state's "heart and soul" in relation to the way crime is being handled under the democratic administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“I’m running so the people feel they are back in control of their government again," he said.

He told supporters: “It’s about restoring order, it’s about backing the blue," adding, “This is a rescue mission to save our state that will be successful.”

Zeldin could face a primary from other Republicans, like Giuliani, who have thrown their hats into the race, AP reported.

They include Harry Wilson, a Johnstown businessman who served as a U.S. Treasury Department advisor under former President Obama, and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who ran unsuccessfully against Andrew Cuomo in 2014, according to the outlet.

A Siena College Research Institute poll found 47 percent of Republican voters said they have a favorable opinion of Giuliani, as compared to 28 percent who had an unfavorable opinion of him, Newsweek reported. The polling numbers show that Giuliani has the highest favorability rating of GOP candidates who are named in the poll, according to the outlet.

Zeldin's favorability was 18 percent favorable compared to 14 percent unfavorable, while Astorino's was 18 percent favorable, as compared to 20 percent unfavorable, Newsweek reported.

In a mission statement published after a calendar item for Giuliani's speaking engagement on Patch, Restore America NY organizers said the state "is in dire need of revitalization on all fronts."

"Our police are unable to do their jobs, and as a result are being placed in great danger each day as the crime rate is skyrocketing," the statement read. "Moreover, we must end these unscientific, business-killing mandates and get back to work."

The statement goes on to challenge the state's school mask mandate, which ended on Wednesday.

"While New York State consistently has the highest per pupil spending rate in the nation, our schools are plummeting in the rankings," the statement reads, asking, "where is this money going?"

"Children must be prepared to take [Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics] courses in high school and college, and be advised of viable alternatives, such as trade school," the statement reads. "Our infrastructure is failing: roads are crumbling, the [Long Island Rail Road] is a nightmare, and our airports are unsatisfactory. Drugs, crime, student debt, forced vaccine mandates and high taxes are some of the reasons why New Yorkers are fleeing in droves to Florida."

"Together, we can rebuild New York," the statement continues. "The Empire State must reclaim its spot as the greatest state in the nation once again."

The statement concludes by asking readers to "join our movement," adding, "as we fight each day to bring about these social improvements for the betterment of the community as a whole."

The state has not had a Republican governor since George Pataki left office in 2006.

The Associated Press contributed additional reporting to this story.