Robert Zimmerman and Jon Kaiman, candidates for the 3rd Congressional District, have both secured additional endorsements ahead of the Aug. 23 Democratic primary.
ProChoice Voter, a New York-based abortion rights advocacy organization, endorsed Zimmerman while the Laborers’ International Union of North America, which includes New York State Laborers’ PAC and the Mason Tenders’ District Council PAC with over 40,000 members across the state, has endorsed Kaiman.
Founded in 1986, ProChoice Voter is an independent PAC that says its mission is to keep abortion legal and ensure that all women have unimpeded access to reproductive health care.
“ProChoice Voter is proud to endorse Robert Zimmerman for Congress. We need a strong experienced voice in Congress who will fight for reproductive freedom for all. Robert Zimmerman is that voice,” Director Catherine Lederer-Plaskett said in a statement. “He will stand up for all impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. At a time when people across the country have come to fear the decisions of this extremist Scotus majority, we must elect champions like Robert Zimmerman.”
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.
“I am truly honored and proud to receive the ProChoice Voter endorsement,” Zimmerman said. “Access to safe and legal abortion will always be a top priority of mine. I will use every tool at my disposal to protect access to care and fight for women’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy.”
John Hutchings, executive director of New York State Laborers PAC, and Michael McGuire, director of Mason Tenders District Council PAC, both said in a statement that Kaiman has the track record to bring results.
“LIUNA-NY is proud to endorse Jon Kaiman for New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Whether as Town of North Hempstead supervisor or a deputy county executive, Jon has always put workers first,” the two men said in a statement. “His experience in negotiating fair contracts, project labor agreements and other pro-worker policies will serve New York’s construction workers well. Our members can count on him to fight for the safety conditions, wages and benefits that let Laborers build New York from the ground up.”
Kaiman, of Great Neck, ran the town from 2004 through 2013 and is currently the deputy executive for Suffolk County, a position he has held since 2017.
“LIUNA-NY represents the workers who build New York; including the invaluable infrastructure projects that help our communities function every day. I have spent my life on picket lines; learning early the importance of working with and, supporting, and advocating for working people,” Kaiman said in a statement. “I look forward to working with LIUNA-NY on ensuring our roads, bridges, sewers, waterworks and public and private buildings get build and rebuilt safely, ensuring safe worksites, improving wages and benefits, and collective bargaining rights in the workplace.”
The two are seeking the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who lost the Democratic primary for governor to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Also running for the Democratic nomination in the district’s Aug. 23 primary are 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 earlier this year.
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.
