Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Rob Astorino

Rob Astorino

  • Lee Zeldin Wins Republican Nomination for New York Governor

    Lee Zeldin, center, on the campaign trail (photo: Zeldin campaign)


    U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who represents New York’s 1st District on Long Island, won the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday. Zeldin appeared headed to a fairly wide margin of victory in a highly competitive race, defeating three opponents in the primary: businessman Harry Wilson, former Trump White House aide Andrew Giuliani, and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who was the 2014 Republican nominee for governor.

    The race was called by Spectrum News on Tuesday night around 10:30 p.m. as Zeldin's margin

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  • Supreme Court Rulings Put Gun Control and Abortion at Center of New York Elections

    A rally in support of abortion rights (photo: Mike Groll/Governor's Office)


    The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority issued two major rulings this past week, overturning Roe v. Wade federal abortion rights and striking down a New York State law that limited the concealed carrying of firearms. Both judgements have sprawling national implications, including as this year’s elections will decide control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, with several swing races here in New York.

    The decisions have also brought abortion rights and gun control to the forefront in the middle of a

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  • Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debates Rife with Misinformation about 2020 Election, January 6 Insurrection, Covid, and More

    Republican primary debate in race for NY Governor (photo: pool)


    The four Republican candidates running for governor have faced off in three debates ahead of the June 28 primary, each attempting to set themselves apart from the others and from the Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, who they want to replace. But in their appeals to the party faithful, three of the candidates have indulged in misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies about the 2020 presidential election, the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection, the covid vaccine, criminal justice reforms in

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  • Democratic and Republican Candidates for Governor Offer Varied Housing Plans

    New York City (photo: Governor's Office)


    New Yorkers are voting this month in the Democratic and Republican primaries for Governor as the state grapples with an affordable housing crisis that has hit downstate regions home to some two-thirds of its population the hardest. The issue has been far more elevated among the three Democratic candidates to lead the state for the next four years, with the four Republican candidates largely ignoring the topic. That trend changed somewhat when Gotham Gazette asked the Republican campaigns about the issue.

    Candidates on both sides of the aisle do

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  • Zeldin the Apparent Favorite But Republican Race for Governor Fluid as Primary Day Nears, Experts Say

    Rob Astorino, Harry Wilson, Lee Zeldin, and Andrew Giuliani (l-r)


    With under a week until primary day, June 28, and early voting underway, Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin by most measures appears to be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for New York Governor in this year’s election.

    But some experts suggest that the race remains open and hard to predict.

    Andrew Giuliani, a former Trump aide, lays claim to certain advantages with the GOP primary electorate, including his association

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  • With Early Voting Underway, Republican Candidates for Governor Try to Separate Themselves at Debate

    (l-r) Harry Wilson, Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, Rob Astorino 


    With early voting underway for the June 28 primary election, the four Republican candidates for Governor of New York faced off on Monday for the second debate of the race, hosted by Spectrum News NY1. It was one of their last opportunities to introduce themselves to voters, outline their priorities, and differentiate themselves from the competition. The candidates are expected to meet again at a debate hosted by Newsmax in Rochester on Tuesday. 

    At Monday’s debate, there was limited daylight on most issues among the four candidates: U.S.

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  • Where They Stand: Compare Democratic and Republican Candidates for Governor on the Issues

    (l-r) Top: Jumaane Williams, Kathy Hochul, Tom Suozzi; Bottom: Rob Astorino, Harry Wilson, Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani 


    The Democratic and Republican primaries in the race to become the next Governor of New York are fast-approaching, with early voting June 18-26 and primary day June 28. With three Democrats and four Republicans making their cases to voters and so much at stake for the future of the state, it's all the more important to compare where the candidates stand on the issues and what they are promising to do if elected.

    Use the interactive tool below to compare the Democratic or Republican

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  • Republican Candidates for Governor Meet for Fiery Debate

    Rob Astorino, Harry Wilson, Lee Zeldin, and Andrew Giuliani (l-r)


    With early voting for the June 28 primary set to begin on Saturday, the four Republican candidates for governor faced off in the sole debate of the race on Monday. The debate was hosted by CBS2, and moderated by anchor Maurice DuBois and reporter Marcia Kramer.

    Appearing in person at the debate were former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, and businessman Harry Wilson; Andrew Giuliani, a former White House aide and the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, participated virtually after refusing to

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  • WATCH: Rob Astorino on His Run for Governor

    Rob Astorino (photo: Astorino for Governor)


    Rob Astorino, Republican candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, joined host Ben Max on MNN's Decision NYC to discuss his campaign. Astorino, the 2014 Republican nominee for Governor and former Westchester County Executive, is running in the June Republican primary against several other candidates. In the video interview, Astorino discusses his experience, campaign platform, and standing in the primary.

  • The Question Hanging Over the New York GOP Convention: Who Can Win in November?

    NY GOP gubernatorial candidates Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, Harry Wilson, and Rob Astorino (l-r)


    Optimism reigned at the recent New York Republican Party state convention on Long Island, but tempering the bravado was the fact that this year marks the twentieth anniversary of the last statewide Republican win in the Empire State.

    That drought was widely acknowledged and inspired the remarks of the four major Republican candidates for Governor this year, with each taking the stage at the Garden City Hotel in Nassau County to convince party leaders, members of the media, and others of their electability. While

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  • ‘The Stakes Have Never Been Higher’: GOP Frontrunner Lee Zeldin Intensifies Campaign for Governor

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    Rep. Lee Zeldin (photo: @Congressman Lee Zeldin)


    Republican leaders in nearly every county in New York have endorsed Long Island Congressional Rep. Lee Zeldin for governor in this year’s election, making him the perceived frontrunner for the party’s nomination. Zeldin, now in his fourth term in Congress representing New York’s 1st District, is forgoing a bid for reelection to the House of Representatives in order to attempt breaking the four-term Democratic hold on the governor’s office.

    But, in order to have a shot at the governor’s office,

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  • Q&A: Andrew Giuliani, Republican Candidate for Governor of New York

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    Andrew Giuliani (photo: Instagram)


    Andrew Giuliani, Trump administration alum and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, is outperforming his rival GOP candidates in the polls early in this year’s race for governor.

    Statewide, Republican leadership has dubbed Long Island Congressional Rep. Lee Zeldin the presumptive nominee, and Zeldin’s campaign has far out-fundraised the other candidates. But Giuliani is confident in his chances, and early polling is bolstering his case.

    Just 36 years old, Giuliani is a first-time candidate for office and running on

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  • Possible GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Weigh Chances to Unseat Cuomo

    gop governor candidates

    L-R: Harry Wilson, John DeFrancisco, Marc Molinaro, Brian Kolb


    The Republican pool of candidates exploring an attempt to unseat Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 2018 gubernatorial race appears to be shrinking. Now just four Republicans say they are exploring a run -- down from at least seven prior to this past Election Day -- with the potential candidates vowing to announce their decisions by Christmas.

    Targeting the well-funded Democratic governor seeking his third term would typically be a bold but calculated bet. On one hand, Cuomo

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  • Races to Watch on Election Day, Inside and Outside New York City

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    Rob Astorino, left, and George Latimer


    Welcome to Election Day 2017. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sweep comfortably to reelection over six other candidates, including Republican challenger Nicole Malliotakis, an Assembly member from Staten Island, despite their efforts to paint him as an ineffective manager beholden to his campaign donors. Similarly, many of the city’s 51 City Council seats that are up for grabs are predetermined by a heavily Democratic electorate, but there are a few spirited city races heading into Election Day,

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  • Progressive Activist Registers Campaign Committee for Latimer’s Senate Seat

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    Katherine Brezler (photo via Facebook)


    A teacher and grassroots organizer is scoping out the Westchester Democratic Party nod in a potential special election for state Senator George Latimer’s seat, which would be triggered if the Democratic senator wins the race for Westchester county executive this fall.

    On July 24, Katherine Brezler, a 35-year-old from White Plains who campaigned for Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential bid, became the first to register a campaign committee for the 37th Senate District seat currently held by Latimer, according to the New York State Board of

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