Village of Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett announced last week he will join a Democratic field that is growing crowded for the 4th Congressional District.
Corbett, who serves as law chair for the county’s Democratic Party, is an election lawyer and a partner in the Harris Beach law firm. Corbett, in a news conference launching his campaign, said he is “tired with the left fighting with the right” and hopes to put a stop to partisan politics, if elected.
“I am running to restore a sense of decency in Washington DC, to return to the days of real progress,” Corbett said in a statement. “Partisan politics is tearing our Country apart, and while the pop-star politicians fight to get likes and retweets, I will be fighting for you.”
The 4th Congressional District comprises central and southern Nassau County, including Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park and Westbury. Under newly drawn redistricting maps, it also takes in the villages of East Williston, Williston Park, Lake Success and some unincorporated parts of the Town of North Hempstead.
Corbett’s candidacy means he will join Nassau County Legislators Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence) and Selia Bynoe (D-Westbury), along with former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, in the race to fill the seat currently held by outgoing U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), who will not run for re-election.
Rice, who was first elected to Congress in 2014 and is in the midst of her fourth term, said in a tweet that elected officials “must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.”
“Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents throughout the rest of my term,” Rice continued.
Rice became the 30th Democratic member of Congress to bow out of the fall elections, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who represents the 3rd Congressional District on the North Shore and is running for governor.
State and Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs told Newsday he believes either Corbett or Bynoe will win the election and take Rice’s place in Congress.
“Between the two of them will come a candidate that’ll win,” Jacobs told Newsday.
Efforts to reach Jacobs for further comment were unavailing.
