Third Congressional District candidate Jon Kaiman won his first major Suffolk County endorsement Thursday from Jon Cooper, the former Democratic majority leader of the Suffolk Legislature.
“He’s the most progressive candidate and the one we can count on to fight for social justice and human dignity in Washington,” Cooper said in a statement.
Cooper determined Kaiman is best equipped to push for federal infrastructure funding, increase workforce protections and “bring middle class jobs to Long Island” after talking with all the candidates, he said in a statement.
Cooper and Kaiman met with supporters Thursday at Munday’s restaurant in Huntington as the former North Hempstead town supervisor runs against four other Democrats in the North Shore district stretching from Whitestone, Queens, to Kings Park, Suffolk.
“From standing up for LGBT rights, Planned Parenthood and our teachers, to helping our seniors age in place and fighting climate change, I look forward to working with Jon Cooper throughout our district and for our country,” Kaiman said in a statement.
Cooper was among more than a dozen Democrats considering a run to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, who announced in January that he would not run for a ninth term in the House.
In backing Kaiman, he breaks with other current and former Suffolk lawmakers — including Israel and County Executive Steve Bellone — who have endorsed Legislator Steve Stern, the only candidate from outside Nassau County.
In a statement, campaign manager Joe Diver touted Stern’s backing from Israel and the Huntington Town Democratic Committee, the only local political committee to make an endorsement in the race so far, as proof of his “proven progressive record of fighting for our values.”
“Stern has consistently fought to protect a woman’s right to choose, clean up the Long Island Sound and make college more affordable, and he’s the best choice to continue Rep. Steve Israel’s exceptional legacy,” Diver said.
Kaiman will face Stern, Jericho attorney Jonathan Clarke, North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan and former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi in the June 28 primary. The winner will take on Republican state Sen. Jack Martins in November.
