Melanie D’Arrigo, a Democratic congressional candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), received an endorsement from the Long Island Network for Change last week.
“I’m proud to have the endorsement of LINC, a grass-roots group that organizes and puts in the work every single election,” D’Arrigo said. “Together, we have an opportunity to take action on the biggest issues we face like health care, the environment, taxes and an economy rigged against everyone but the uber-wealthy.”
The 3rd Congressional District includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck and Floral Park, among other areas. Suozzi, the former mayor of Glen Cove and former Nassau County executive who was first elected to the seat in 2016, won re-election in 2018 and is seeking another term this year.
D’Arrigo, a Port Washington resident, mother of three, and community and health care advocate, said she was grateful to hear about the endorsement after speaking to the organization earlier this year.
“When I spoke to [the organization], I realized they were so in touch with the needs of the community, and the people are extremely active and engaged,” D’Arrigo said. “It was very humbling to receive their endorsement, and I am excited to work with them going forward.”
The organization, according to its website, was formed in the wake of President Donald Trump 2016 election victory. The organization’s mission is “to be a force for social, racial, economic and environmental justice through personal engagement, education, and political action,” according to its website.
“We are excited to endorse Melanie D’Arrigo in the June 23 primary because her progressive platform meets LINC standards for economic, social, racial and environmental justice,” Lynn Kaufman, one of the organization’s founding members, said. “Long Island needs Democrats who will stand up for the people of this community and stand against corporate political contributions, corruption and inequality in our district and for the United States of America.”
The organization is a member of Indivisible, “a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOP’s agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies,” according to its website.
According to a news release, the organization supports D’Arrigo’s stance on affordable and available health care, the repealing of the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds for most abortions, equality for all, immigrant rights, economic justice and common-sense gun safety.
D’Arrigo’s campaign has been endorsed by more than 15 organizations as of Tuesday, including the National Organization for Women, Matriarch, Long Island Activists, Our Progressive Future, Forward Thinking Democracy, Brand New Congress, Moms in Office, and Muslims for Progress.
Though campaigning for votes and endorsements has changed since the coronavirus pandemic began, D’Arrigo said, meaningful conversations are being conducted every day.
“We’re very focused on voter outreach and holding virtual town hall meetings,” D’Arrigo said. “People are more likely to be listening to the issues now more than ever throughout what is going on in the world.”
D’Arrigo said she encourages everyone in the 3rd Congressional District and beyond to fill out absentee applications along with reaching out to her campaign offices to discuss the issues further at https://www.darrigo2020.com/.
Kim Devlin, senior adviser for Suozzi for Congress, responded to the news of D’Arrigo’s endorsement.
“Congressman Suozzi has been focused on addressing the pandemic and delivering funding for our hospitals and frontline workers, for his constituents, and small businesses, and getting federal aid to New York,” Devlin said in a statement. “The political season has begun and the Congressman will highlight his record of getting thing done for the people he serves.”
Devlin implored residents to find out more about Congressman Suozzi’s work at www.suozziforcongress.com
Michael Weinstock, a Democratic challenger in the 3rd Congressional District and Great Neck native, said members of the organization contacted him and said the endorsement “came out of nowhere and there was no discussion or vote.”
“These people were especially appalled because Melanie claims to be a “progressive” but she is actually a very wealthy woman who has hired a team of lawyers to try to knock me off the ballot,” Weinstock said in a statement.
“We’re proud to have received LINC’s endorsement which was based on an internal vote,” D’Arrigo said in a statement. “They voted to endorse me because my platform most closely aligns to their mission. I’m the only progressive in the race with a platform that helps Long Island and Queens families. Considering we’re in a pandemic, Weinstock seems to have more time for complaining than focusing on the issues, running a viable campaign, or helping his community.”
Efforts to reach a representative from the organization for comment were unavailing.
