Zeldin Wins in Landslide
Lee Zeldin was easily re-elected to a second term as the First District’s representative in Congress on Tuesday, defeating his opponent, former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, by a 59 to 41-percent margin.
Unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections gave Mr. Zeldin, running on the Republican, Conservative, and Independence Party ballots, 174,682 votes to 121,640 for Ms. Throne-Holst, who ran on the Democratic, Working Families, and Women’s Equality Party tickets.
In a statement issued early yesterday, Mr. Zeldin thanked his campaign volunteers as well as Ms. Throne-Holst for a “hard-fought” campaign. “It has been a privilege to serve as your Congressman for the past two years, and it is a true honor to be able to continue my work on your behalf,” he said. “There are a number of opportunities presented on any given day to move us forward in a positive direction, and it’s such an honor to be leading that effort in the First Congressional District.”
Mr. Zeldin had endorsed Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee for president, who staged an astonishing election night upset. During the campaign, Ms. Throne-Holst repeatedly attempted to tie Mr. Zeldin to Mr. Trump’s many disparaging comments about women and minorities, which clearly did not dissuade voters. According to unofficial results, Mr. Trump and Gov. Mike Pence, his running mate, outpolled Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, by 328,403 votes to 276,953 in Suffolk County.
Ms. Throne-Holst conceded the race in a statement issued shortly after midnight yesterday. “Suffolk County represents the very fabric of America, with hardworking men and women determined to support their families and build a democracy that moves our country forward and makes our communities stronger,” she said. “I’d like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign over the course of this incredible journey. It is our collective vision of a fair and unified America that will guide the road ahead and shape the future for our next generation.”
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a political action committee dedicated to electing Republicans to the House of Representatives, spent $1 million on the First District race. “The fact is, Lee Zeldin gets results,” Mike Shields, the organization’s president, said in a statement congratulating Mr. Zeldin. “With a proven record, Lee Zeldin is the clear choice for First District families, and Congressional Leadership Fund is proud to have supported his re-election. Lee can be counted on to fight for center-right solutions to the economic and national security challenges facing families, small businesses, and our country.”
Reg Cornelia, chairman of the East Hampton Republican Committee, was jubilant at Mr. Zeldin’s strong showing. He called the congressman “a serious straight-shooter” and a hard worker. “I think he has a very bright future,” he said yesterday.
Betty Mazur, vice chairwoman of the East Hampton Democrats, had a different take. “I’m very sad more than anything else,” she said, “sad that so many people went along with this kind of negative approach to government, buying into the agenda based on fear and hate and resentment — which is not to deny there is cause for resentment among many people.”
In East Hampton, “so many marvelous people got together and volunteered for Mrs. Clinton and for Anna Throne-Holst,” Ms. Mazur said. “It was a terrific team, and I’m so proud of everybody who participated. I wish we could have had a different result.”
In other returns, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, won a fourth term, overwhelming his Republican challenger, Wendy Long, 70 to 27 percent. Mr. Schumer is expected to become the Senate’s minority leader in January. In Suffolk County, Mr. Schumer had a 60 to 38 percent margin of victory.
State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party ballots, easily won re-election in the First Senatorial District, holding off his Democratic challenger, Gregory-John Fischer. Unofficial results put Mr. LaValle’s vote total at 86,169 to Mr. Fischer’s 41,976, a 67 to 33 percent margin of victory.
Likewise, State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., seeking re-election in the First Assembly District on the Democratic, Working Families, Independence, and Women’s Equality Party tickets, defeated his Republican challenger, Heather Collins. Mr. Thiele won 30,574 votes to Ms. Collins’s 19,061, according to the Board of Elections, or 62 percent to 38 percent.