Rep. Lee Zeldin, GOP nominee for N.Y. governor, attacked at campaign event near Rochester

A man attempted to stab Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for governor of New York, as he delivered a campaign speech near Rochester on Thursday night, according to his campaign and video from the event.

Zeldin, a 42-year-old lawmaker who represents a Long Island district, grabbed the assailant’s wrist, and others present restrained the man before authorities took him into custody, said Katie Vincentz, a spokeswoman for the candidate.

No injuries were reported in the attack in Fairport. “Congressman Zeldin went back on stage to finish his remarks and thank the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene,” Vincentz wrote on Twitter.

FILE - U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin speaks to delegates and assembled party officials at the 2022 NYGOP Convention on March 1, 2022, in Garden City, N.Y. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for New York governor, was attacked on Thursday, July 21, 2022 by man with knife at an upstate event but was uninjured, his campaign says. (John Minchillo/)

David Jakubonis, suspected of swinging a sharp weapon in the direction of Zeldin’s neck, was charged with attempted assault in the second degree, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s office.

Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, was arraigned in Perinton Town Court and released without bail, the sheriff’s office said.

The incident took place around 8 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial post on Macedon Center Road in Fairport, according to the sheriff’s office.

WHEC-TV reported that audience members held the disgruntled attacker with zip ties drawn from campaign posters before the Monroe County Sheriff’s office arrested him.

Video published by the station showed a man — wearing sunglasses, a green hat and a gray t-shirt — holding a sharp object as he stood near Zeldin and repeatedly said, “You’re done.” In the video, a group pulls the man, and Zeldin, to the ground.

Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York GOP, said in a statement that the attack could “have ended much worse.”

“Thanks to the swift action of several brave eventgoers, the perpetrator was subdued,” Langworthy said in the statement.

Gov. Hochul, the Democrat who is running to retain her seat, said she was aware of the attack.

“Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody,” Hochul said on Twitter. “I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible — it has no place in New York.”

Zeldin said on Twitter that he was grateful attendees had “stepped up quickly to assist.”