Republican’s across the country are hoping public frustration over Washington and displeasure with President Obama will result in major electoral gains in Congress. So far, in most of New York City (but not all) and specifically in the 8th Congressional District, the national backlash has yet to manifest itself in the form of a candidate to challenge long-time incumbent Jerry Nadler.
With one exception.
The Federal Elections Commission lists one Steven Ari-Z Leiner as Nadler’s sole competition. A quick search finds an article in the Jewish Press from late last year about the young Jewish man who has filed papers to run for congress.
Leiner is a nationally recognized highly successful life insurance businessman. He started while in college at Columbia University where he received a B.A. in political science – to pay for his tuition – and has continued ever since. His awards include admission to the Million Dollar Round Table and the President’s Cabinet.
The FEC lists Leiner as an independent candidate. From the article, written by a former “foreign-policy analyst for Rudy Giuliani’s Presidential Committee,” it’s hard to tell where Leiner’s political affiliations are; he lists Mayor Bloomberg, Warren Buffet and Paul Krugman as role models.
While he says he’s interested in running, Leiner indicated in an email today that he would, in fact, not be looking to represent the 8th Congressional District. Instead, he said, he is “exploring several other possible Congressional districts to run in.”
So much for Nadler’s only challenger.
Republicans in Brooklyn, at least, have provided no indications that they’re planning on contesting in the 8th District. In an email last week, a local Brooklyn Republican leader indicated that there had been no discussions that he knew of regarding running against Nadler.
The nine-term congressman won his last election, in 2008, by an 80-20 ratio. While he remains popular with much of constituents, given the political turmoil in McMahon’s neighboring district and the long-time support of Republicans like New York State Senator Marty Golden, it could be politically beneficial to field a strong candidate.