Sparks fly at debate in New York GOP primary for governor: ‘You’re on the wrong debate stage, man’

Rep. Lee Zeldin took an aggressive approach as the front-runner in the first, feisty debate of New York’s Republican primary race for governor, batting back a barrage of attacks on Monday night by conjuring Trump-like nicknames for his rivals.

Zeldin, a Long Island lawyer who leads in opinion polls in the race, was almost immediately smacked by broadsides from Rob Astorino, the party’s nominee for governor in 2014, and Harry Wilson, a businessman.

Wilson called Zeldin a “Cuomo clone,” saying the congressman displayed fealty to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his time in the state Senate. Astorino agreed, saying Zeldin “sided” with Cuomo and “blew it” in Albany.

“I don’t mind taking on all three of you here tonight!” Zeldin declared in the WCBS-TV/Channel 2 tilt, dismissing his opponents as “Never-Trumper Wilson” and “Rolex Rob.”

Former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, far left, businessman Harry Wilson, second from left, Suffolk County Congressman Lee Zeldin, second from right, and Andrew Giuliani, far right, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, face off during New York's Republican gubernatorial debate at the studios of CBS2 TV, Monday, June 13, 2022, in New York. Giuliani participated via virtual broadcast after he was blocked from the studios for not meeting vaccine requirements. (Bebeto Matthews/)

Wilson has said he did not vote for former President Donald Trump in 2020, writing in Nikki Haley. A Rolex wristwatch belonging to Astorino was once seized by the FBI in a probe that did not lead to charges against the politician.

During one particularly heated exchange, Wilson — a relatively moderate millionaire — said Zeldin had asked him in the winter to run on his ticket.

Zeldin said Wilson was lying. “That is a zero percent chance,” Zeldin said.

“He’s scared — he’s a broken candidate,” Wilson said of Zeldin. “His campaign is disintegrating.”

Zeldin repeatedly countered that Wilson should be running in the Democratic primary against Gov. Hochul, not in the Republican race. “You’re on the wrong debate stage, man!” Zeldin said.

In an Emerson College poll of the race conducted last week, Zeldin led the field with 34% support from voters, Astorino picked up 16%, Wilson nabbed 15% and Andrew Giuliani trailed with 13%. But Wilson may be gaining steam; he was little-known before the campaign.

Looming over the race is Trump, who has not made an endorsement.

Zeldin has the backing of the state Republican Party and has been a loyal supporter of Trump. He voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election won by President Biden. Giuliani’s father, Rudy, led Trump’s legal war to overturn the election.

And Astorino, the former Westchester County executive, has called Trump a friend but also recognized Biden as the winner of the 2020 race.

It is not clear if Trump will endorse in the race. Primary Day falls on June 28; the Monday night debate is the only showdown scheduled so far in the campaign.

But Giuliani, joining the debate remotely after he said he had not received the COVID vaccination required for entry at the CBS Broadcast Center, issued some Trump-like media criticism, chastising a debate moderator.

“I’m trying to answer the question over here,” he told Marcia Kramer, the moderator, as she grilled him about vaccine mandates. “It’s bad enough I’m in a different room because you guys have relegated me to this. Let me at least answer your question.”

“This is a great example of the media continuing to be unfair against conservatives,” Giuliani added.

He said Trump was a “great president” and expressed hopes that the 45th commander-in-chief will run for the White House again.

Zeldin echoed support for a Trump run in 2024, before turning his focus to blistering attacks on Wilson.

Wilson called himself a “Reagan conservative,” noting that his daughter’s middle name honors President Ronald Reagan.

On some issues, the candidates showed alignment, agreeing in their opposition to COVID mandates. But on others, separation emerged.

Wilson said he would not seek changes to the state’s robust laws protecting abortion rights, while the other candidates staked out pro-life stances.

“We’re all fathers on the stage, or in the room that I’m in,” Giuliani said from his undisclosed location, describing how fatherhood influenced his stance on abortion.

“I’m pro-life,” Giuliani said. “And I’m not afraid to say it.”