Lee Zeldin’s summer swing

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Aug 07, 2023 View in browser   By Nick Reisman, Emily Ngo, Jeff Coltin and Hajah Bah Former Rep. Lee Zeldin. | David Dee Delgado/Getty Images Former Rep. Lee Zeldin is back on the campaign trail. Yes, he wishes he was governor. No, he doesn’t plan on a decision for the 2026 governor’s race until after the November 2024 general election — a proverbial eternity in politics. In the meantime, Zeldin has kept busy. He’s started a charity and political action committees. He’s given speeches across the country. And he’s trying to help elect New York Republicans running in an otherwise quiet, off-year election season. Zeldin has spent the last several days in upstate New York. His itinerary included campaigning for candidates like Mark Assini, who is running for Monroe County executive — a county he lost to Gov. Kathy Hochul last year. It also won’t be the last trip he makes upstate this year, Zeldin told Playbook soon after he landed in Syracuse. These are low-key events Zeldin is attending: clambakes and BBQs with local-level Republicans, many of whom have low name ID outside of their own communities. “The level of people who will be involved in this November’s race will not be the same as last year, and that’s really a reality of any state in the country where you don’t have a statewide race on the ballot,” he said. If that sounds less glamorous than, say, being governor of New York right now, Zeldin insisted he’s willing to put in the work as a loyal Republican out of gratitude for the support he received in 2022. “There were a lot of people who helped out with our race last year and are now running in ‘23 and ‘24,” Zeldin said. “I want to be able to do my part to support great candidates.” The trip also means remaining visible and maintaining relationships with ground-level Republicans who could be instrumental in deciding the next gubernatorial nominee for the party in three years. Zeldin came tantalizingly close last year to becoming the first Republican to win statewide in 20 years. A power drought for the party remains, and Republicans are hungry for anyone who can be competitive. Still, Zeldin told Playbook he is not thinking about the next big thing for his own electoral future. “Because that decision is still 18 to 24 months or so in front of us, I really don’t spend my day thinking about it,” he said. IT’S MONDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? Delivering a housing announcement in Harrison, N.Y. WHERE’S ERIC? Appearing on NY1’s “In Focus with Cheryl Wills." QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Adams bravely has taken on the [Biden] administration and talked to them about the problems of sending all these migrants [to New York] but not sending any significant resources to help house them,” said former governor David Paterson.   A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY.     ABOVE THE FOLD Pedestrians pass migrants waiting in a queue outside of The Roosevelt Hotel on July 31, 2023, in New York. | AP Photo/John Minchillo AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE: Nearly 20 groups are combining their clout to pressure the Biden administration to expand Temporary Protected Status and alleviate the city’s migrant crisis, according to a letter shared exclusively with Playbook. The undersigned are a unique mix: labor unions like 1199 SEIU and 32BJ, immigrant advocates like Make the Road NY and the New York Immigration Coalition, and the pro-business Association for a Better New York. “The President does have a tool —TPS — that would allow these new asylum seekers to have immediate access to work authorization,” reads the letter dated Monday. Department of Homeland Security officials have said they regularly monitor country conditions to determine if a TPS designation is warranted, and they don’t have specifics to share about the status of those considerations. — Emily Ngo WHAT CITY HALL IS READING CASE DISMISSED: Scott Stringer waited too long to file his defamation suit against Jean Kim, the woman who accused him of sexual harassment during the 2021 mayoral primary. A Manhattan judge dismissed the case Friday, ruling that it was filed outside the one-year statute of limitations. Stringer’s lawyer says he’ll appeal. Separately, Kim has sued Stringer under the Adult Survivors Act, claiming he kissed and groped her without her consent in 2001. — Jeff Coltin Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso was the guest of honor at a July 17 secretive meeting about mounting a primary challenge to Mayor Eric Adams. | William Alatriste for the New York City Council NYC progressives fear ‘total failure to coalesce’ around mayoral primary challenge, by POLITICO’S Jeff Coltin: It’s become the hottest topic in New York City politics: Who will run against Adams in 2025? While everyone seems to agree that defeating the powerful incumbent would be difficult, there’s a widespread sense that he isn’t invincible. The right candidate, with the right organization, some luck — and maybe a public scandal or two for Adams — could actually win. New migrant respite center in Sunset Park draws opposition from first-generation immigrants, by Gothamist’s Bahar Ostadan WHAT ALBANY'S READING OFF AND RUNNING: The ballot lines are virtually set for the Sept. 12 special election to replace Daniel Rosenthal in 27th Assembly district. David Hirsch formally received the Republican and Conservative Party lines. He’ll face Democratic candidate Sam Berger. — Nick Reisman Ex-Gov. David Paterson outlines reasons NYC could be headed for ‘70s-style doom — migrant crisis at ‘tipping point’, by New York Post’s Jorge Fitz-Gibbon Focus turns to state amid city's struggle to house asylum seekers, by Spectrum News’ Kelly Mena: “One result of the conference was a clear message that Hochul needs to take control of the situation." AROUND NEW YORK — New York City Council Democrats blocked former councilwoman Debi Rose from the Board of Elections. (New York Post) — The city's food vendors are calling on politicians to make it easier to get permits. (The New York Times) — New outdoor dining rules are coming. Here's what to expect. (Daily News)   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Robert Mueller … NYT’s Jonathan Swan … Axios’ Sara Fischer … Matt Dornic … Ron Christie … CNN’s Dan Merica … CC Leslie … Brian Steel of Vista Equity Partners … The Atlantic’s Scott Stossel … Caitlin Legacki … (was Sunday): Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter … Axios’ Neil Irwin … Krysia Lenzo … WSJ’s Julie Bykowicz … CNN’s Mike Melia … Joel M. Cohen … Steptoe’s Elizabeth Burks … Deena Abu-Lughod ... Michael Glennon … … (was Saturday): A.G. Sulzberger … ABC’s Luis Martinez … Donté Donald … Manfred Ohrenstein ... Robert Rosenkranz ... Sonja Kohn ... Cintra Pollack OUT AND ABOUT: The Next 50, a PAC supporting young Democratic candidates, held a fundraiser Saturday night in East Hampton, featuring a live band. SPOTTED THERE: New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé on a panel with Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, moderated by Lis Smith. Also: City Councilmember Keith Powers, Erika Tannor of Tusk, Meredith Tannor, Akhurapa Ambak, and Revel’s Jake Potent. Real Estate Syracuse landlord hit with heavy sanctions for dangerous living conditions, by The Real Deal’s Ted Glanzer   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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