Zeldin, Lee M. (Lee Michael), 1980-

<p>Lee Michael Zeldin (born January 30, 1980) is an American attorney, member of Congress, and officer in the United States Army Reserve. A Republican, he has represented New York's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2015. He represents the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, the entirety of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island, and a small portion of Islip. From 2011 to 2014, Zeldin served as a member of the New York State Senate from the 3rd Senate District.</p>

<p>During Donald Trump's presidency, Zeldin was a staunch Trump ally. He prominently defended Trump during his first impeachment hearings in relation to the Trump–Ukraine scandal. After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and made false claims of fraud, Zeldin voted not to certify Arizona's or Pennsylvania's electoral votes.</p>

<p>In April 2021, Zeldin announced his candidacy for governor of New York in 2022. State Republican party chair Nick Langworthy has called him the party's "presumptive nominee".</p>

<p><b>RACES</b>
<ul>
<li> 09/01/2022 NY Governor - R Primary ???</li>
<li> 06/26/2022 NY District 01 - R Primary ???</li>
<li> 11/03/2020 NY District 01 Won 54.84% (+9.71%)</li>
<li> 11/06/2018 NY District 01 Won 51.48% (+4.09%)</li>
<li> 11/08/2016 NY District 01 Won 58.20% (+16.43%)</li>
<li> 11/04/2014 NY - District 01 Won 54.40% (+8.86%)</li>
<li> 06/24/2014 NY - District 01 - R Primary Won 61.34% (+22.67%)</li>
<li> 11/06/2012 NY State Senate 03 Won 55.69% (+11.43%)</li>
<li> 11/02/2010 NY State Senate 03 Won 57.07% (+14.16%)</li>
<li> 11/04/2008 NY - District 01 Lost 41.62% (-16.76%)</li>
</ul>
</p>

ZELDIN, Lee M, a Representative from New York; born in East Meadow, Nassau County, N.Y., January 30, 1980; graduated from William Floyd High School, Brookhaven, N.Y., 1998; B.A., State University of New York, Albany, N.Y., 2001; J.D., Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y., 2003; United States Army, 2003-2007; United States Army Reserve, 2007-present; lawyer, private practice; unsuccessful candidate for election to the One Hundred Eleventh Congress in 2008; member of the New York state senate, 2011-2014; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fourteenth and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2015-present).

<p>Congressman Lee Zeldin grew up in Suffolk County, New York, where he graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach. Congressman Zeldin graduated from the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY) and then Albany Law School, becoming New York's youngest attorney at the time at the age of 23.</p>

<p>After completing the Army ROTC program, Congressman Zeldin served four years on Active Duty. During that time, he served in different capacities, including as a Military Intelligence Officer, Prosecutor and Military Magistrate. While assigned to the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division, in the summer of 2006, Congressman Zeldin was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, with an infantry battalion of fellow paratroopers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his service on active duty, in 2007, Congressman Zeldin transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserve, where he currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel.</p>

<p>In 2008, Congressman Zeldin opened a successful law practice in Smithtown, New York, which he operated full time until he was elected to the New York State Senate in 2010, representing New York's 3rd Senate District. As a State Senator, Congressman Zeldin led the successful effort to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for 80 percent of employers, a job killing tax that was hurting New York's small businesses. He also created the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, a peer to peer counseling program for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); the program started in Suffolk County and quickly expanded across the state. Congressman Zeldin also successfully fought to repeal the Saltwater Fishing License Fee; a victory for tens of thousands of fishermen on Long Island.</p>