Sag Harbor Woman Aims To Unseat Rep. Zeldin In Congress

SAG HARBOR, NY — A Sag Harbor woman is throwing her hat into the ring to unseat Rep. Lee Zeldin in the 1st Congressional district during the 2018 election.

Hannah Selinger has launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised $1,966 of its $5,000 goal so far.

"Zeldin's record has been disturbing, for sure. But I was put over the edge by the May 4 vote on the Affordable Health Care Act Act. I read the bill, in its entirety, and believe it's bad for New York. And I think we can do better than Zeldin."

On her GoFundMe page, Selinger wrote, "I'm not alone in my guilt. For many years, I sat on my laurels. It was easy to become complacent during the past eight years," Selinger wrote. "We enjoyed a competent president. We didn't fear war with North Korea or the melting of the polar ice cap. We complained, justifiably, about an obstructive Congress led by Mitch McConnell, about a Supreme Court seat left vacant for over a year. We complained about the small chipping away of women's rights and civil rights. But I think I speak for many of us when I say: We never really believed that our democracy was in jeopardy."

The 2016 election, Selinger said, "was not only shocking because Trump won — it was also shocking because it was a repudiation of qualities that I believe are inherently American. We take care of one another. We believe in justice. We believe that the color of our skin does not define us. We believe that our past, as a country rooted in slavery, has made us a better, less racist people. We believe that women deserve to be paid as much as men. We believe that the climate is changing and that we can do work to save the planet. We do not stand for the removal of health coverage from millions of Americans, or the deportation of aliens who have made this their home."

She added, "We do not believe that refugees or Muslims should be excluded from the American Dream. Representative Lee Zeldin has aligned himself with Donald Trump, and it is time for Zeldin's constituents to fight back."

Selinger said aside from education, interest, and an internship on Capitol Hill in 1999, she has no experience in the political arena.

"But Donald Trump was not a politician, either, and he rose to the highest ranks. There is no reason that the opposition cannot adopt his brand of populism and use it to make our country great again — the way it was before January 20, 2017. With that in mind, I am announcing my intent to run for Representative Lee Zeldin's seat in New York's 1st Congressional District on November 6, 2018."

Selinger said she believes in a woman's right to choose, amnesty for DREAMers, refugees, and hardworking undocumented people who live in the community. She also believes that the Affordable Care Act can be saved and improved upon.

"That it is our best bet in saving American lives. I believe that climate change is an urgent matter and that we are obligated to curb emissions and do everything else within our power to prevent what may now be inevitable. I believe in marriage equality. I believe that our police departments need reform so that we can end the cycle of violence that sees a young black man killed almost every day. I believe in taking care of the Americans that are less fortunate than us. I believe in building a stronger economy by creating jobs in the private sector, through renewable energy. I believe that Americans are inherently good and that we do not represent the values espoused by the man in the White House."

And, she said, "I believe that we can do better than Zeldin. Let this be a clarion call to our leaders. Let us move past complacency. Long Island can be better. So let's make it better together."

Donors, in accordance with campaign finance laws, Selinger said, must email their name, occupation and address to Hannahselingerforcongress@gmail.com.