At the RNC, Long Island strong

Convention Point

In Speaker Johnson’s ear

MILWAUKEE — The message coming Tuesday from both local delegates and those outside the region was the same: Long Island is critical to Republicans’ broader success — both in New York and beyond.

For Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, that meant spending his morning with Nassau GOP chairman Joe Cairo, as they shared brunch with Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of House leadership. While the brunch was part of a broader event, D’Esposito told The Point he and Cairo were able to spend time directly with Johnson. That interaction — which came after Johnson has been on Long Island four times since becoming speaker less than a year ago — was a sign of how important the Island is to the national Republican Party.

"I want people back home to realize . . . how important the Long Island Republican delegation is to leadership and to President Trump," D’Esposito told The Point. "The fact that the speaker of the House and the majority leader and the whip know a county chairman by his first name just tells you how important Nassau County is . . . Without Long Island, we wouldn’t be in the majority and we’re going to continue to carry that banner."

Long Island is especially important to Johnson, D'Esposito said.

"Long Island is in his ear and we matter to him, and it’s mutual and he matters to us," D’Esposito added.

D’Esposito, a former New York Police Department detective, spent part of the afternoon talking to The Point about the theme of the convention’s second day — safety and security. For Long Island, D’Esposito said, safety-related issues, particularly related to the migrant crisis and border security, were "unifying."

"This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s a United States of America issue," he said. "When I deliver the message back home, I talk about it as a New York and Long Island issue because it is."

Long Island’s import also wasn’t lost on Rep. Elise Stefanik, who will speak Tuesday evening during the convention’s official session. Stefanik held a news conference Tuesday morning with three other congressional representatives. While the Island wasn’t represented, Stefanik was quick to recognize the region’s place in the state party.

"We are all in on Long Island," she said. "Long Island has told the story of the growing Republican Party beating Democratic incumbents in districts. We see every Election Day that the map of Long Island is a sea of red."

Stefanik promised she’d also be attentive to the one Long Island congressional seat not occupied by a Republican — CD3, in which Mike LiPetri will challenge Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi. Stefanik said state Republicans expect to be "going on offense on that seat."

Without an official afternoon session, delegates spent their time schmoozing and connecting at receptions, often closed to the press, and other events. Surprise guests — including Rudy Giuliani — made appearances.

Some of Long Island’s GOP stars spent their time on more hot-button issues. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who will speak to the convention Wednesday on foreign policy and national security issues, held an NY GOP reception Tuesday afternoon at a local spot called Drink Wisconsinbly that featured swimmer Riley Gaines and basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom. Both have been critical of the role transgender individuals have played in sports. Before the event, which was closed to the press, Zeldin held a news conference that featured Gaines in which he criticized efforts to include transgender individuals in women’s sports. But even then, Zeldin also tried to take a broader tack, noting the party’s potential play in New York, and Republicans’ efforts to appeal beyond their base.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

A 'veep' of faith

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Final Point

Caption contest

While at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, New York State GOP chairman Ed Cox spent time Tuesday filming for a Nixon Library project. Cox, former President Richard Nixon’s son-in-law, took a moment to pose in front of a massive step-and-repeat banner featured in the Baird Center library, which features an iconic photo of Nixon, who resigned from the presidency in 1974. Cox wasn’t the only one taking souvenir shots. Throughout the day, Republicans posed in front of the photo — often mimicking Nixon’s pose.

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