Meet The Candidates: Rob Lubin In The 2nd Congressional District

LONG ISLAN, NY — Democrat Rob Lubin is seeking the 2nd Congressional District on Nov. 5.

With Election Day just around the corner, Patch has been reaching out to the candidates to find out why they are running this November.

Here is what the candidate had to say:

Name: Rob Lubin

Campaign website: roblubinforcongress.com

City or town of residence: Lindenhurst, NY

Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives

Party affiliation: Democratic

Education: B.A., George Washington University

Occupation: Small business owner and full-time candidate

Family: My fiancée, Romi, and I have been together for four years; we’re getting married in summer 2026 and I couldn’t be happier. We have a dog, Romolo, who’s just like his dad — small but packs a big punch.

I’m very lucky to have loving and supportive parents who’ve taught me a lot: my father, Dan, is a healthcare expert and my mother, Flaminia, is a documentary journalist. My younger brother, John, is an investment analyst and one of my best friends.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Age: 29, I’ll be 30 before Election Day.

Previous public office, appointive or elective? N/A

Why are you seeking this office?
America is at a pivotal moment in our history, and we need elected leaders who are focused on delivering real results for their communities. I am ready to fight for my neighbors because the issues they face are the same issues I face.

In 2019, I was diagnosed with a rare condition that left me blind in my left eye. No insurance company would cover my monthly medication or emergency surgery. This experience deepened my belief that no American should have to choose between putting food on the table and taking care of their health. When I'm elected, I'll make sure we pass legislation to reduce prescription drug costs for all Americans, and I’ll fight to protect and strengthen Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.

Long Island is home to more than 90,000 small businesses and I recognize the challenges that they face — including high taxes. I launched my own small business, IN-HOUSE, because I was excited for the opportunity to chase the American Dream. However, my business was taxed more than we were making in revenue because of a tax code that treated us like a billion-dollar corporation.

Congress needs to amend the tax code and give small businesses back more of their revenue. We know that when small businesses prosper, the community prospers, and vice versa. I'm running to build strong communities and strong businesses.

After becoming engaged in 2022, my fiancée, Romi, and I wanted to buy a home here. But the average home on Long Island costs close to $1 million, putting our dream out of reach. The affordability crisis on Long Island, particularly the exceptionally high cost of housing, has pushed 100,000 people to move away over the past few years. I believe the cost of living is the biggest problem facing Long Island and the rest of the country, and we need leaders in Congress who have personally experienced its effects and are willing to fight for common sense policies to bring down prices.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I believe an elected representative should do his job and show up for votes; my opponent has missed 4 percent of votes in Congress — that’s twice as many as average. I believe an elected representative should prioritize town halls and engagement with constituents; my opponent has hosted zero town halls and is largely absent from the district.

I believe that women should have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions; my opponent supports abortion bans. I believe in moderation and voting in your district; my opponent votes on the party line. My opponent is a career politician who began serving in the State assembly immediately following law school. I'm a regular guy running to help his neighbors afford their prescription medication. We have fundamentally different motivations for public service.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
We need to secure the Southern border and streamline the immigration system. I support the bipartisan border security bill negotiated by the Senate that would hire additional Border Patrol guards and immigration court judges, and make investments in technology to prevent drug smuggling and human trafficking across the Southern border. Republicans killed that bill at the last minute because Donald Trump wanted to run on the issue instead of actually solving the problem. The border is a real crisis that needs to be addressed, and I will never play politics at the expense of serious solutions on this or any other issue.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My professional background is in the private sector, where innovation, efficiency, collaboration, and determination are key to success. These are skills that are badly needed in Congress —especially one that is as gridlocked as ours is now.

I was the youngest executive in F.C. Barcelona history, where I secured over $25 million in sponsorship deals for the club. I then founded my own small business and went through three rounds of venture-backed funding at a $15 million valuation; I also learned firsthand the challenges that small businesses face in an environment of high costs and high taxes that we see on Long Island today.

I believe that not having spent my life in politics is a plus. I can relate to many of the day-to-day problems the people I'm running to represent are dealing with because I’ve lived them myself. I’m committed to truly listening to my constituents on the issues they care about, and I’ll bring fresh energy to addressing those issues in Congress.

What problems facing your district would you look to solve if you are elected/re-elected?
The five issues I'm primarily focused on are lowering prices for housing, food, and medicine, securing the Southern border, protecting a woman's right to choose, reducing taxes on small businesses, and restoring the SALT deduction.

Cancer is a prominent health issue for Long Islanders and is a leading cause of death for children. What measures would you take to help lower cancer rates and bolster research in the field?

I am a strong supporter of the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative, and I believe it is the best pathway to curing cancer in our lifetimes. As a member of Congress, I will fight to ensure the program is properly funded so we can work toward a sustainable and affordable cure.

What would you do to help small businesses struggling with inflation and the cost of goods needed to manufacture their products?
The best way to help small businesses deal with higher prices is to reduce their taxes. Small businesses should operate under a fundamentally different tax code than large corporations, and I intend to push for this necessary change. By lowering taxes, small business owners will be able to take home more revenue even in the face of rising costs.

Water quality is critical to the region. What plans do you have to help improve water quality and keep it safe for generations?
Long Island's dated septic system poses a serious threat to our drinking water. In Congress, I'll fight for funding to modernize our sewer and water systems to ensure all Long Islanders have access to clean drinking water. Improving our sewer and water infrastructure is also essential if we want to build more housing on Long Island.

How can the immigration crisis be addressed at the federal and local level? Can federal and local officials work together?
I'm a strong supporter of the bipartisan border security bill negotiated by the Senate. This legislation will be a strong first step toward solving this crisis. The federal government should work with local leaders to ensure legal immigrants are going where they're needed and stabilizing the workforce. America is rapidly aging; local leaders should be cognizant of the need for immigrant labor and ensure their communities recognize and experience its benefits.

What can be done about inflation, which some say can be attributed to price gouging?
I largely view the inflation seen in consumer goods prices as a downstream effect of global supply chains being strained during the pandemic. I believe that this issue will resolve naturally, but that we should also look to strike trade deals with our allies for long-term stability in our supply chains.
That said, I support efforts to crack down on big corporations that unfairly jack up prices and take advantage of consumers.

The median cost of renting on Long Island falls between $2,000 and $3,100. How can more affordable housing options be created?
We need to build housing, especially around public transit. While I believe this issue should be dealt with mainly on the local level and in consultation with communities on their respective needs, I will support federal initiatives to incentivize the building of housing centered around public transit systems.

What is your stance on SALT (State and Local Tax Relief)?
The SALT cap is a result of the Republican Party’s decision under Donald Trump to shift the burden of taxation onto states like New York. That should be disqualifying to their electoral prospects here. We must bring back the SALT deduction, and I will not support a single bill in Congress that raises taxes without removing the SALT cap.

What needs to be done to keep Long Island streets safe from crime?
I believe a trained police force is an effective police force. I support increased funding for police departments so that officers are better prepared for what they will encounter in the line of duty. I also support background checks and red flag laws to make it harder for criminals to obtain firearms. Our streets are safest when law enforcement is ready, willing, and able to intervene to the best of their ability, and when there aren’t guns in the hands of dangerous people.

The DWI/DWAI rate is escalating island-wide. What measures can you fight for, to address the escalating addiction crisis?
We need to pass the bipartisan border security bill that would invest in technology to slow the movement of illegal drugs across our Southern border. Most of the illegal drugs consumed in the U.S. pass through lawful ports of entry, and we have the technology that can stop the flow of drugs. Unfortunately, Republicans are playing politics with the health and safety of American citizens so that Donald Trump can run on the border crisis.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten was from my grandfather, who told me to “listen before leading.” Too often in politics, leaders are quick to speak or make decisions without fully understanding the needs and concerns of their constituents. The people I hope to represent deserve a representative who actively listens, builds relationships across communities, and seeks to understand every perspective before crafting policies or offering solutions. My grandfather’s advice shaped my approach to leadership and to this race: that my role is not just to push an agenda but to be a voice for those I represent.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I’m deeply committed to standing up for everyone’s fundamental rights. Right now, we’re seeing Republicans target women, LGBTQ folks, and immigrants. That’s just not acceptable. These attacks go against America’s core values of fairness, equality, and freedom.
If I’m elected, I’ll fight to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law, because women should not have politicians making decisions about their bodies. I’ll also work to strengthen protections for LGBTQ people so they can live their lives without fear of discrimination. And I’ll work to prevent immigrant communities from being demonized or treated unfairly.

We need leaders who aren’t afraid to call this out and who will actively work to protect the rights of everyone, not just a select few.