The race to replace outgoing Rep. Tom Suozzi in a newly redrawn Long Island congressional district is heating up ahead of fast-approaching Aug. 23 primary election.
A cacophony of Democratic candidates are competing for the 3rd Congressional District slot amid accusations that one front-runner is a conservative in Dem clothing.
Nassau County legislator Josh Lafazan, endorsed by Suozzi last month, twice ran for office on the Conservative Party line and drew heat from Dems for backing a bill last year that would have allowed cops to sue protesters for harassing them while on duty.
The 28-year-old, who has also contributed to local Republican clubs, changed his party registration to Democrat late last year as he announced his congressional bid.
“Josh Lafazan’s track record as a conservative sympathizer is disqualifying and shows that Democrats can’t trust him to stand up for our values in Washington,” Jason Kaplan, a spokesman for rival candidate Robert Zimmerman, said in a statement.
Zimmerman, a longtime Democratic National Committee member and fund-raiser, has racked up major endorsements — including Hillary Clinton and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli — as he battles against Lafazan, former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, progressive activist Melanie D’Arrigo and businesswoman Reema Rasool.
Lafazan adviser Kim Devlin said despite the allegations, the young lawmaker is best suited to face off against Republican George Santos in November’s general election.
“Josh wins tough races in tough years, having held onto a Trump district as a Democrat three times,” she said. “Josh is ready to take that fight for Democratic values to Congress and deliver for Nassau and Queens.”
“Cavorting with conservatives, romancing the right while dancing with Democrats. Josh Lafazan should pick a side,” said Jon Kaiman. “I did [pick a side] a long time ago. I am a Democrat.”
Suozzi, who gave up his seat to run unsuccessfully against Gov. Hochul in June’s gubernatorial primary, lauded Lafazan as “a common-sense Democrat, just like me.”
The redrawn 3rd Congressional District is Nassau-centric, covering most of the suburban Long Island county as well as a slice of eastern Queens.
While still predominantly a Democratic district, Republicans are hopeful they can swing the seat to the right.
Last fall, Republican Bruce Blakeman unseated incumbent Democrat Laura Curran in a tight county executive race, and Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly defeated former Democrat state Sen. Todd Kaminsky in a race centered on the state’s bail reforms.
D’Arrigo has the backing of the progressive Working Families Party and has carved out a lane running to the left of her competitors, while Kaiman enjoys wide name recognition in the district thanks to a long public career. He currently serves as deputy county executive in Suffolk.
Whoever wins the Aug. 23 Dem primary will face a tough general election as Santos is pushing hard to continue the red wave from last year and help Republicans regain control of the House.
The gay conservative and first generation American who describes himself as a seasoned Wall Street financier and investor, has focused on the economy and inflation in recent social media posts and videos.
“Liberal policies have resulted in a higher cost of living, higher crime, and lower confidence in America,” he tweeted recently. “We can fix this, but we need new and better leadership.”
