It’s Jew vs. Jew In Long Island Congressional Race

Image by wikimedia commons

By Juliana Kaplan June 27, 2018

Businessman Perry Gershon beat a crowded field to secure the Democratic nomination for New York’s 1st Congressional District and face off against Jewish Republican incumbent Lee Zeldin in November, Patch reports.

Zeldin, one of two Jewish Republicans in the House, ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Gershon fended off four competitors to nab the Democratic primary, with a reportedly well-funded run.

“Tonight’s victory shows Suffolk County is energized and ready for change. A year ago, I decided to run for Congress because I was fed up with career politicians, like our own congressman, Lee Zeldin, who put special interests and partisan politics ahead of people,” Gershon said in a statement, according to Patch.

Gershon stressed a liberal agenda in his campaign, focusing on infrastructure investment, job creation, women’s health care and accessible health care, and protecting Social Security and Medicare.

The two face a tough race in November; The Cook Political Report ranks the ultimate race as “likely Republican.” However, there are liberal strongholds, and the district voted twice for Barack Obama before swinging Trump in 2016.

“Congrats to Park Avenue Perry on buying his way into a general election. It’s amazing that the Democratic Party was so desperate that they nominated a liberal Manhattan Democrat who has never even voted here in a November election for Congress,” a press release from Zeldin’s office said.

Juliana Kaplan is a news intern at The Forward. Email her at kaplan@forward.com or follow her on Twitter, @julianamkaplan

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO