Zeldin Mum On Trump Amid Leaked Texts On Strategy To Overturn Election

LONG ISLAND, NY — Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin received the official endorsement of former President Donald Trump on Sunday in his race for the governor's seat against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul, and Zeldin reportedly downplayed the news of the endorsement amid leaked texts that indicated his team was in touch with Trump's in an effort to overturn the 2020 election, according to a report.

“It shouldn’t have been news,” Zeldin said, according to the Daily News. “He supported me before this weekend.”

According to a post on his social media network, Trump praised Zeldin. The endorsement comes after years of reported alignment between the two lawmakers.

Texts have emerged, reportedly sent from Zeldin to Mark Meadows, chief of then-President Trump, over political strategy, according to the Olean Times Herald. The text, which includes "two ideas" for Trump, were reportedly uncovered by journalist Hunter Walker, the Olean Times Herald said, and were part of an ongoing investigation into reported efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Zeldin did not return multiple requests for comment from Patch Tuesday.

Hochul came out strong against the texts this week, according to Spectrum News 1.

"Zeldin’s text messages with Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reveal that he played a central role in the former president's concerted effort to throw out the 2020 presidential election results," said campaign spokesman Jerrel Harvey, according to the Spectrum News 1 report. "Zeldin’s record is already dangerous and disqualifying, and these new revelations show the extent of his involvement in pushing Donald Trump’s baseless conspiracy theories."

According to Spectrum News 1, Zeldin's campaign fired back in response : "You know Kathy Hochul is desperate when she’d rather obsess over a text message sent at the beginning of November before the election was even called, rather than focusing on the issues most important to New Yorkers, including rising crime on our streets and a skyrocketing cost of living. Where is her statement calling for a special session on cashless bail?" spokeswoman Katie Vincentz reportedly said.

Trump's endorsement praised his longtime political ally.

"I have watched and known Congressman Lee Zeldin for many years. He is a great and brilliant lawyer who was a 'must see' for others in Congress when they had a complex legal problem that was holding up legislation. Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded. Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!"

Hochul slammed the endorsement on Twitter.

"Donald Trump just officially endorsed my opponent. Lee Zeldin has enabled and embraced the former president's extremism since day one — but New Yorkers rejected Trump and they'll do the same for Lee in November."

Last month, Trump held a fundraiser for Zeldin in New Jersey, with Zeldin turning to him for campaign funds, according to the New York Times.

A recent Marist poll has Hochul ahead of Zeldin by 10 percentage points. On Tuesday, two other polls released Tuesday indicated that Hochul's hold on the Empire State could be loosening, according to the Gothamist: A Quinnipiac University poll reflected Hochul as having a 50to 46 percent lead over Zeldin, a narrow, margin in a largely Democratic state that hasn't elected a Republican to statewide office years, the post said. Meanwhile, Siena College said Tuesday that Hochul with an 11-point advantage, down 17 points three weeks ago.

Zeldin's reported support of Trump has been questioned by some in the past.

In January 2021, Zeldin's praise of then-President Trump was trending on Twitter just hours after Trump was impeached for the second time.

A trending Tweet by political reporter Paul McLeod shared a quote by Zeldin: "Thank you to the president for his efforts to defeat MS-13 in my district."

Zeldin is a Suffolk lawmaker looking to unseat Hochul who represents New York's first congressional district, including the parts of western Suffolk, the North Fork, and the Hamptons, where Trump has hosted a number of big-ticket fundraisers.

At an immigration forum on gang violence Trump attended with Zeldin on Long Island in 2018, he said, of the deadly street gang he's called "animals," that its presence on Long Island and across the country is "a menace."

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

In January 2022, after decrying the violence that rocked the U.S. Capitol, Zeldin voted to object to the certification of the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

A total of 121 Republican members of the House voted to object to Arizona's election votes, securing Biden's victory. Some Republicans who planned to object reversed course after rioters stormed the Capitol, but Zeldin, a longtime supporter of Trump, maintained his stance.

"Rogue election officials, secretaries of state, and courts circumvented state election laws," he said on the House floor. "They made massive changes to how their state’s election would be run. These acts, among other issues, were unlawful and unconstitutional."

He then called out Democrats. "Democrats have objected every time a Republican presidential candidate has won an election over the past generation," he said.

Also in 2021, U.S. representatives from New York voted along party lines to impeach Trump, except for one Republican who voted with Democrats, for impeaching Trump on a charge that he incited the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The House voted 232-197 in favor, making Trump the first president in United States history to be impeached twice.

The historic House vote took place a week after the Capitol incident.

Zeldin voted against impeachment, arguing the attack at the Capitol was "pre-planned and it started while the president was speaking."

Zeldin's stance after the Capitol incident sparked outrage among some of his constituents.

"Any elected official that continues down this line of lies and misinformation doesn't deserve to serve the good people of the United States of America," said Jim Shaw of Greenport.

Perry Gershon, a Democrat who lost a primary bid to challenge Zeldin, wrote in a Facebook post: "Yesterday's events in DC left a permanent scar on our great nation ... But for those of us in NY CD-1, it's that much worse to know that our own representative Lee Zeldin was on the side against democracy. His desire to curry favor with Trump and his constant efforts putting ambition over country should not go unnoticed."