Donald Trump Jr. hosts fundraiser for GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin Tuesday in Nissequogue
Rep. Lee Zeldin is seen June 28 at a campaign event at the Smithtown Elks Lodge. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Donald Trump Jr. and former Fox News Channel host Kimberly Guilfoyle headlined a fundraiser for Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) Tuesday night at the home of a Nissequogue businessman.
The fundraiser at Steve and Carolyn Louro's home was attended by 600 guests and raised $200,000 for Zeldin's re-election campaign, making it his most successful fundraiser, spokeswoman Katie Vincent said.
The event was co-hosted by Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary under President George W. Bush. It also featured former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden, former Yankee Rick Cerone and former New York Jets players Wesley Walker and Marty Lyons, according to an invitation to the event.
Tickets to the fundraiser started at $300 per person and $500 per couple, rising to $5,000 for a special seating and photo op with Trump Jr. and Zeldin.
Zeldin, who is facing Democratic businessman Perry Gershon of East Hampton has embraced a number of Trump administration figures. Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon hosted a Manhattan fundraiser for Zeldin. Zeldin kicked off his campaign last month with an event that featured White House officials Sebastian Gorka and Sean Spicer.
In November, Steve Louro resigned as the Republican Party's regional finance chairman in protest over the GOP tax overhaul that capped the state and local tax deduction at $10,000. But Louro remains a strong Trump supporter.
Zeldin this election cycle had raised $3 million, spent $1.7 million and had $1.7 million cash on hand as of June 30, the most recent federal campaign finance report available.
Gershon had raised $2.2 million, spent $2.1 million and had $74,000 according to his report.
In a statement, Gershon said he aimed to give, "people a non-politician’s alternative to the corruption in Washington."
Referring to the guilty plea Tuesday by President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen for tax evasion and violating campaign laws, and the conviction of the president's former campaign manager Paul Manafort for financial crimes, Gershon said: "On the very day his father’s attorney pleads guilty to a crime committed to help Trump win the election, and Paul Manafort is convicted of fraud, Donald Jr. is embraced by Lee Zeldin. It’s long past time for a change.”
David Schwartz covers environmental issues. A native Long Islander, he's worked at Newsday since 2013.
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