Great Neck’s Robert Zimmerman’s campaign recently announced an endorsement from the New York State AFL-CIO as he runs for the Democratic primary nomination in the 3rd Congressional District.
The union is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector and building trades unions throughout the state, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. In their announcement of the 2022 endorsement slate, the union said they “carefully researched candidates before making these recommendations as the best choices for working people in New York State.”
Zimmerman has referred to himself as the candidate of organized labor in the primary race.
“I’m honored and proud to announce that I’ve been endorsed by the New York State AFL-CIO. Union values are core American values and organized labor is the backbone of our country and our communities here in NY-03. I am proud to be the candidate of organized labor in this race. Labor will always be my partner and have a seat at the table for as long as I serve in Congress, and I am ready to be a tireless advocate and fighter for working families. From fighting to pass the PRO Act to advocating for fair pay, safe workplace conditions, and better benefits – protecting working families will be my priority in DC.”
Additional unions to endorse Zimmerman include New York State United Teachers, Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union, Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union Local 338, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, District Council 9, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300 and the American Federation of Government Employees District 2
Zimmerman is co-president of ZE Creative Communications on Bond Street in Great Neck, a public relations firm he started 33 years ago with Ron Edelson.
He is seeking the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who just lost the Democratic primary for governor to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
If elected, Zimmerman would become the first openly gay member of Congress from Long Island and Queens.
Since his announcement this year, Zimmerman’s campaign has raised over $900,000.
Other endorsements for Zimmerman’s campaign have come from former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Assemblyman Charles Lavine and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Also running for the Democratic nomination in the district’s Aug. 23 primary are former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan, Melanie D’Arrigo of Port Washington and Oyster Bay’s Reema Rasool.
George Santos is seeking the Republican nomination.
New district maps were submitted recently by a court-appointed “special master” and have been viewed as more neutral compared to ones that were rejected by a state appeals court several weeks ago.
While the 3rd Congressional District under the new proposal does not extend as far west as the Bronx or Westchester, it does stretch to more southern parts of Nassau County such as Hicksville and Massapequa. The new lines do exclude the parts of the district that now stretch into Suffolk County, mainly Huntington and Smithtown.
