Republican Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin reported Sunday that he has raised $2.5 million over ten days since announcing his bid for governor.
Zeldin jumped into the 2022 gubernatorial race as three-term Democrat incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo grapples with coronavirus nursing home death and sexual harassment scandals.
Cuomo intended to run for a fourth term before his popularity plummeted amid multiple state and federal investigations of his actions — including a probe in the state Assembly that could lead to impeachment.
Cuomo has denied wrongdoing.
“As I’ve traveled across the state, from Western New York to the Capital Region to Long Island, New Yorkers are fired up and passionately all in to save our state, and they’re taking action,” Zeldin said in a statement.
“They know Cuomo’s Gotta Go, and it’s going to take a new generation of leadership to get the job done,” added Zeldin. “The support coming from every corner of New York has been inspiring. Together, we will return New York to glory.”
Zeldin and other potential Republican candidates — including 2018 gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro, former Westchester County executive and 2014 gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino and Andrew Giuliani, the son of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani — will meet with state and county GOP leaders in Albany Monday to discuss the 2022 race.
“I’ll be there. I have and will continue to keep up the fight,” Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, said Sunday night.