History of Lee Zeldin in Timeline
Lee Michael Zeldin is an American attorney, politician, and U.S. Army Reserve officer. A Republican, he served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023. This district covers the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County, encompassing most of Smithtown, all of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island, and a small portion of Islip. Prior to his time in Congress, Zeldin served in the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd district from 2011 to 2014.
January 30, 1980: Birth of Lee Zeldin
Lee Michael Zeldin was born on January 30, 1980. He later became an American attorney, politician, and officer in the United States Army Reserve.
1998: High School Graduation
Lee Zeldin graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York, in 1998.
2001: College Graduation
Lee Zeldin earned a bachelor's degree in political science from SUNY University at Albany in 2001.
2002: Gubernatorial contests since 2002
The year 2002 was mentioned as a reference point for closeness in gubernatorial elections.
May 2003: Law School Graduation
Lee Zeldin graduated from Albany Law School with a Juris Doctor in May 2003.
2003: Start of U.S. Army Service
Lee Zeldin began his service in the United States Army in 2003, starting in the Military Intelligence Corps.
2004: Admitted to New York State Bar
Lee Zeldin was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2004.
2007: Transition to Army Reserve
In 2007, Lee Zeldin transitioned from active duty in the U.S. Army to the Army Reserve.
2007: Attorney for Port Authority
Lee Zeldin started working as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2007.
2008: Law Firm Founded
In 2008, Lee Zeldin established a general-practice law firm in Smithtown, New York.
2008: First Congressional Run
Lee Zeldin first ran for Congress in 2008, challenging incumbent Tim Bishop in New York's 1st congressional district. He lost the election.
2010: New York State Senate Election
Lee Zeldin challenged and defeated incumbent Brian X. Foley in the 2010 election for the New York State Senate's 3rd District.
January 2011: Property Tax Cap Bill
In January 2011, a bill co-sponsored by Lee Zeldin, which implemented a 2% property tax cap, became law.
June 2011: Vote Against Marriage Equality Act
Lee Zeldin voted against the Marriage Equality Act in June 2011, stating his belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The bill passed and was signed into law.
December 2011: Support for MTA Payroll Tax Cut
In December 2011, Lee Zeldin supported a $250 million cut to the MTA payroll tax.
2011: Vote Against Same-Sex Marriage in New York
In 2011, as a New York state senator, Lee Zeldin voted against the Marriage Equality Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state.
2011: Start of New York State Senate Service
Lee Zeldin began serving as a member of the New York State Senate from the 3rd Senate district in 2011.
March 2012: Support for Veterans Support Program
In March 2012, Lee Zeldin helped create the PFC Joseph Dwyer PTSD Peer-to-Peer Veterans Support program, securing funding in the 2012-13 New York State Budget.
2012: New York State Senate Re-election
Lee Zeldin was re-elected to the New York State Senate in 2012, defeating Democrat Francis Genco.
January 14, 2013: Absence from NY SAFE Act Vote
Lee Zeldin was absent for the vote on the NY SAFE Act, a gun control bill, on January 14, 2013, due to Army Reserve duty. He later stated he would have voted against it.
October 6, 2013: Announcement of Second Congressional Run
On October 6, 2013, Lee Zeldin announced his intention to run again for Congress against Tim Bishop.
February 2014: Bill to Halt Common Core
In February 2014, Lee Zeldin introduced a bill aiming to pause implementation of the Common Core curriculum for three years.
March 2014: Vote Against New York Dream Act
Lee Zeldin voted against the New York Dream Act in March 2014, a bill that would have granted undocumented students access to financial aid.
2014: End of New York State Senate Service
Lee Zeldin's term in the New York State Senate concluded in 2014.
February 2015: Introduction of Bill to Eliminate VA Loan Limits
In February 2015, Lee Zeldin introduced his first bill, which sought to remove the dollar limit on loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
February 2015: Inclusion in Patriot Program
In February 2015, the National Republican Congressional Committee selected Lee Zeldin for the Patriot Program, which supports vulnerable Republican incumbents.
April 2015: Introduction of Fluke Fairness Act
In April 2015, Lee Zeldin and Senator Chuck Schumer introduced the Fluke Fairness Act, proposing a regional approach to managing fluke fishing quotas based on geographic, scientific, and economic data. The bill did not pass.
May 2015: Vote on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
In May 2015, Lee Zeldin voted in favor of and co-sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill sought to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life. The bill included criminal penalties for doctors violating the ban and ultimately did not pass.
June 2015: Response to Obergefell v. Hodges and Co-Sponsorship of First Amendment Defense Act
In June 2015, following the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Lee Zeldin declined to comment on his views on same-sex marriage but stated his belief that the issue should have been left to individual states to decide. Later that month, he co-sponsored the First Amendment Defense Act, a bill intended to protect individuals and institutions from government penalties for their beliefs about marriage being between one man and one woman.
July 15, 2015: Introduction of Exclusive Economic Zone Clarification Act
On July 15, 2015, Lee Zeldin introduced the Exclusive Economic Zone Clarification Act. This bill sought to amend the federal Exclusive Economic Zone boundary to grant New York and Rhode Island exclusive fisheries management of Block Island Sound. The bill faced opposition from Connecticut fishermen and died in committee.
July 2015: Amendment to Student Success Act
In July 2015, Lee Zeldin successfully passed an amendment to the Student Success Act. This amendment enabled states to opt out of Common Core standards without facing penalties.
September 2015: Opposition to Dumping Dredged Materials
In September 2015, Lee Zeldin and Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment voiced their opposition to a federal plan for dumping dredged materials in Long Island Sound, citing environmental concerns.
September 18, 2015: Vote on Defund Planned Parenthood Act
On September 18, 2015, Lee Zeldin voted for the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015. This bill aimed to defund Planned Parenthood for one year unless the organization ceased providing abortion services.
2015: Start of Congressional Service
In 2015, Lee Zeldin began his service as a U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district.
2015: Co-Sponsorship of Bills to Combat Lyme Disease
In 2015, Lee Zeldin co-sponsored two bills: the Tick-Borne Disease Research and Accountability and Transparency Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, both aimed at combating Lyme disease.
2015: Absences from House Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearings
In 2015, Lee Zeldin was reported to have missed a significant number of House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings related to ISIL and Syria.
January 2016: Absences from House Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearings
In January 2016, the New York Post reported that Lee Zeldin had missed 12 out of 18 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings related to ISIL and Syria in 2015.
February 2016: Visa Request to Iran
In February 2016, Lee Zeldin, along with Representatives Mike Pompeo and Frank LoBiondo, requested visas to travel to Iran to assess the country's compliance with the Iran nuclear deal framework.
February 2016: Proposal for Veterans' Peer-Support Program
In February 2016, Zeldin proposed legislation to fund a national veterans' peer-support program.
April 2016: Legislation to Prevent Sale of Plum Island
In April 2016, Lee Zeldin introduced legislation to prevent the federal government from selling Plum Island to the highest bidder. The bill unanimously passed the House the following month.
May 3, 2016: Endorsement of Donald Trump
On May 3, 2016, Lee Zeldin endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
June 2016: Iran Rejects Visa Request
In June 2016, Iran rejected the visa requests of Lee Zeldin, Mike Pompeo, and Frank LoBiondo, calling it a publicity stunt.
2016: Support for Donald Trump
During the 2016 campaign, Zeldin supported Trump's presidential bid but also criticized some comments about the Khan family.
2016: Re-election Campaign
In 2016, Lee Zeldin ran for re-election to the House of Representatives.
2016: Congressional Election Victory
Lee Zeldin won the 2016 general election against Democrat Anna Throne-Holst, securing his seat in the House.
March 2017: Co-Sponsorship of Israel Anti-Boycott Act
In March 2017, Lee Zeldin co-sponsored the bipartisan Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which aimed to counter the BDS movement against Israel.
May 4, 2017: Vote to Repeal and Replace Affordable Care Act
On May 4, 2017, Lee Zeldin voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and replace it with the American Health Care Act.
November 2017: Opposition to Republican Tax Bill
In November 2017, Lee Zeldin expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed Republican tax bill due to concerns about the elimination of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. This led to House Speaker Paul Ryan canceling a planned fundraiser for Zeldin after he voted against the House version of the bill.
December 2017: Vote Against Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In December 2017, Lee Zeldin voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. While he supported the corporate tax cuts, he opposed the limit on property tax deductions, favoring a higher cap than the one included in the bill.
2017: Support for Comey Firing
In 2017, Lee Zeldin supported President Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.
April 2018: Stance on Paris Agreement
In April 2018, Lee Zeldin expressed his disapproval of the Paris Agreement, citing concerns about other countries not taking sufficient responsibility for their impact on climate change.
May 2018: Support for US Embassy Relocation to Jerusalem
In May 2018, Lee Zeldin expressed support for the Trump administration's decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
May 2018: Calls for McCabe Prosecution and Special Counsel Investigation
In May 2018, Zeldin called for the prosecution of Andrew McCabe and a special counsel investigation into the FBI and DOJ's handling of the Russia investigation.
2018: Campaign Fundraisers
During his 2018 campaign, Lee Zeldin held fundraisers with Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka.
2018: Vote Against Government Funding During Shutdown
During the 2018-19 government shutdown, Lee Zeldin voted against the appropriations measure to fund the government and stated he would not accept his pay until the shutdown ended.
2018: Congressional Re-election Campaign
Lee Zeldin ran for re-election to Congress in 2018.
May 2019: Vote Against the Equality Act
In May 2019, Lee Zeldin voted against the Equality Act.
October 2019: Defense of Trump During Impeachment Hearings
In October 2019, during Trump's first impeachment hearings related to the Trump-Ukraine scandal, Zeldin defended the president, claiming allegations of Trump seeking dirt on the Bidens from Ukraine were false.
November 2019: Prominent Role in Impeachment Depositions
By November 2019, Zeldin had become a prominent voice among Republicans during the impeachment depositions, being mentioned over 550 times in transcripts.
January 1, 2020: Opposition to New York's Bail Reform
On January 1, 2020, New York's bail reform went into effect. Lee Zeldin repeatedly called for its repeal, opposing the elimination of cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
January 2020: Brief to Overturn Roe v. Wade
In January 2020, Lee Zeldin joined a "friend of the court" brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
February 1, 2020: Call to Expunge Impeachment
On February 1, 2020, Zeldin advocated for expunging Trump's impeachment if Republicans regained a House majority.
April 2020: Obtaining PPE for Suffolk County
In April 2020, Lee Zeldin announced that he had helped secure over 1.2 million pieces of personal protective equipment from the White House for Suffolk County to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This was achieved through discussions with Jared Kushner.
August 2020: Jewish Republicans in Congress
As of August 2020, Lee Zeldin was one of two Jewish Republicans serving in Congress.
November 2020: Leukemia Diagnosis
Lee Zeldin was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2020.
2020: Campaign Rallies During COVID-19 Pandemic
During the 2020 election campaign, Lee Zeldin participated in rallies without wearing a mask or practicing social distancing.
2020: Support for Trump's Election Challenges
Following the 2020 election, Lee Zeldin supported Trump's false claims of election fraud.
January 6, 2021: Vote Against Electoral Vote Certification
On January 6, 2021, following the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Lee Zeldin voted against certifying the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania. He later condemned the violence and acknowledged Biden's presidency.
January 2021: Advocacy for Expungement of Impeachment
In January 2021, Zeldin reiterated his call to expunge Trump's impeachment.
January 2021: Response to Trump's Call to Raffensperger
In January 2021, when asked about the recording of Trump pressuring Georgia's Secretary of State to alter election results, Zeldin criticized the media.
April 2021: Gubernatorial Candidacy Announcement
In April 2021, Lee Zeldin announced his candidacy for governor of New York in the 2022 election.
April 30, 2021: Endorsements for Gubernatorial Run
On April 30, 2021, Lee Zeldin received endorsements for his gubernatorial campaign from Erie and Niagara counties' Republican party chairs, securing him the necessary support for the Republican nomination.
June 2021: Presumed Nominee
Following a straw poll in June 2021, Lee Zeldin was declared the "presumed nominee" for the Republican and Conservative parties in the New York gubernatorial race.
July 1, 2021: Vote Against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On July 1, 2021, Lee Zeldin voted against the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
August 2021: Endorsements from County Chairs
By August 2021, Lee Zeldin had received endorsements from a significant number of New York's county Republican party chairs.
September 18, 2021: Announcement of Leukemia Remission
On September 18, 2021, Lee Zeldin announced that he was in remission from leukemia after treatment.
November 5, 2021: Vote Against Infrastructure Bill Amendment
On November 5, 2021, Lee Zeldin voted against the Senate amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
November 2021: Campaign Fundraising and Strategy
In November 2021, Lee Zeldin's campaign reported substantial fundraising and his intention to visit every county in New York twice. He also stated he wouldn't commit to campaigning with Donald Trump.
March 1, 2022: New York Republican State Committee's designation for governor
On March 1, 2022, Lee Zeldin received the New York Republican State Committee's designation for governor of New York with 85% of the committee's vote. He also received the Conservative Party's designation. His pick for lieutenant governor, Alison Esposito, ran unopposed and received the state party's designation.
April 2022: Proposed Appointment of Anti-Abortion Health Commissioner
In April 2022, Lee Zeldin expressed support for appointing a health commissioner who opposed abortion, calling it "a great idea".
June 2022: Response to Overturning of Roe v. Wade
In June 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Lee Zeldin called it a victory for life, family, the Constitution, and federalism. He stated that the decision would not change abortion access in New York.
June 29, 2022: Republican gubernatorial primary winner
On June 29, 2022, Lee Zeldin was declared the winner of the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, defeating Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, and Harry Wilson. He went on to face incumbent Kathy Hochul in the November general election.
July 2022: Vote on Respect for Marriage Act
In July 2022, Zeldin was among 47 Republican representatives who voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which aimed to codify same-sex marriage rights into federal law.
July 21, 2022: Attack at Campaign Event
On July 21, 2022, Lee Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event in Perinton, New York. A man attempted to assault him with a keychain, but was stopped by AMVETS national director Joe Chenelly. The attacker was briefly detained and later arrested on federal assault charges.
October 2022: Stance on New York Abortion Laws
In October 2022, Lee Zeldin stated that he would not change New York's abortion laws if elected governor.
December 8, 2022: Abstention from Final Vote on Respect for Marriage Act
On December 8, 2022, Lee Zeldin did not vote on the final passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
2022: New York Gubernatorial Election
Lee Zeldin ran for governor of New York in 2022, ultimately losing to incumbent Kathy Hochul.
2023: Launch of Leadership America Needs PAC
In 2023, Lee Zeldin launched the Leadership America Needs PAC to boost Republican voter turnout.
2023: End of Congressional Service
Lee Zeldin concluded his service as a U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district in 2023.
