Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed fellow Democrat Robert Zimmerman for the 3rd Congressional District Monday.
Clinton, who was the Democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential election against Donald Trump, announced her support for Zimmerman on Twitter. Clinton said the Great Neck resident and co-president of the public relations firm ZE Creative Communications will “defend our democracy… against an extreme right-wing Republican,” George Santos.
“I am proud to endorse Robert Zimmerman for Congress in NY-03,” Clinton tweeted. “Robert has a proven record of standing up to the gun lobby and protecting abortion rights.”
Zimmerman said he was honored to receive Clinton’s endorsement, acknowledging her advocacy to defend women’s rights.
“Long Island and Queens residents deserve a real Democrat who isn’t afraid to stand up for our values,” Zimmerman said in a statement. “As a lifelong Democratic activist and leader, I have the experience, values, and commitment to take on this fight in Washington and deliver results for our communities.”
Last week, Zimmerman also received an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, who serves the state’s 6th Congressional District in northeast Queens. Meng, who has represented the 6th District since 2013, was the first Asian American to be elected to Congress throughout New York and has pushed for more diversity among representatives.
If elected, Zimmerman would be the first openly gay member of Congress from Long Island and Queens.
“Robert understands that our diversity is our strength. He will bring thoughtfulness and inclusivity to all that he does,” Meng said in a statement. “Whether it be supporting a woman’s right to a legal and safe abortion, combating the gun violence raging through our country, or protecting the sanctity of our elections and institutions, Robert will stand with us.”
Other endorsements for Zimmerman’s campaign have come from former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Assemblyman Charles Lavine and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Zimmerman is seeking the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who is running for governor. Also running for the Democratic nomination in the district’s Aug. 23 primary are former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan, Melanie D’Arrigo of Port Washington and Oyster Bay’s Reema Rasool.
George Santos is seeking the Republican nomination.
New district maps were submitted recently by a court-appointed special master and have been viewed as more neutral compared to ones that were rejected by a state appeals court earlier this year.
While the 3rd Congressional District under the new proposal does not extend as far west as the Bronx or Westchester, it does stretch to more southern parts of Nassau County such as Hicksville and Massapequa. The new lines do exclude the parts of the district that now stretch into Suffolk County, mainly Huntington and Smithtown.
