Two overtly homosexual pols are vying for a congressional seat in Lengthy Island in a historic first for the US.
Robert Zimmerman, 68, a communications govt, and George Santos, 34, a Wall Road investor, are going through off in New York’s third district protecting Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, North Hempstead and a slice of northeastern Queens.
“It’s a landmark. It’s an absolute landmark,” stated Ken Sherrill, a Hunter School political scientist and former Democratic district chief who was New York’s first overtly homosexual elected official.
In interviews with The Put up, each candidates stated they acknowledged the historic nature of the race.
“For me there’s an ideal sense of historical past to the second that I take very severely and consider is essential,” Zimmerman stated. “Folks neglect what it was wish to be homosexual within the 70s after I was rising up. I used to go to the diner in Nice Neck on my own as a result of I used to be embarrassed to inform my of us I didn’t have a date for the dance. I used to be informed there have been medical doctors who might make me higher.”
Santos stated he felt his nomination confirmed his occasion was welcoming of LGBT People.
“I believe it exhibits that a whole lot of what the media places on the market that Republicans are homophobic and never accepting is simply not true. I've loads of help from the native Republican occasion. I've been nominated twice in a row with no opposition,” he stated.
Each, nevertheless, had been adamant that that’s the place the similarities ended.
Zimmerman took photographs at Santos for his obvious opposition to abortion rights and President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure invoice. Whereas Santos stated his opponent had an agenda that “doesn't communicate to the problems we've as we speak.”
Democrats have been sending overtly homosexual candidates to congress for many years, like former Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, it’s been a slower path for Republicans.
The GOP below President George W. Bush supported a Constitutional modification to ban same-sex marriage within the mid-2000s and most just lately, a large majority of the occasion voted towards codifying same-sex marriage because the regulation of the land.
Although the seat leans Democrat, the race is among the best within the nation. Polling final month from RMG Analysis discovered Zimmerman with 42% help, and Santos with 41%. A decisive 14% bloc stated they had been nonetheless uncertain. The seat grew to become open this yr after Rep. Tom Suozzi declined to hunt reelection to as a substitute mount an unsuccessful run for governor.
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