Trump endorses GOP’s Zeldin as he surges in NY governor race against Hochul

Former President Donald Trump threw his “complete and total” support behind Republican Lee Zeldin, a Long Island congressman challenging incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in the midterm elections, calling him a “brilliant lawyer” and strong on crime.

“I have watched and known Congressman Lee Zeldin for many years. He is a great and brilliant lawyer who was a ‘must see’ for others in Congress when they had a complex legal problem that was holding up legislation,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded. Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!,” he added.

The endorsement comes as Zeldin rises from a long-shot candidate to a legitimate challenger, according to recent reports and polling.

Poll aggregator RealClearPolitics moved the New York gubernatorial election from “lean Democrat” to “toss-up” over the weekend.

Although the site shows Hochul up 5.3% as of Monday morning, the margin is a stunning comeback from the blue-state Republican. A poll as recent as August showed Zeldin down 24 points to the incumbent governor, according to the New York Post.

An independent poll released Friday found a similar gap – Hochul with 50% support from likely voters compared to 44% for Zeldin – as the Republican homed in on rising crime and the economy.

“It’s a very competitive race,” said Doug Schoen of Schoen Cooperman Research, who ran the poll. He has served as a pollster for former President Bill Clinton and three-term ex-Mayor Mike Bloomberg, notes the New York Post.

Later on Friday, the Long Island congressman promised to preserve the state’s abortion rights laws if elected – an attempt to cut off an angle of attack from the pro-choice Hochul.