Lee Zeldin — widely credited with helping the GOP flip four House seats in New York last year amid his closer-than-expected race for governor — says he hasn’t picked a favorite for president in 2024.
“I haven’t made any endorsements for the 2024 race. But I believe in a robust Republican field,” Zeldin told The Post on Monday.
“If there’s a big, robust primary that gets Republican primary voters more engaged earlier, Republican volunteers more active earlier, it’ll generate more media or excitement.”
But in a thinly veiled shot at embattled ex-President Donald Trump — and coming off recent appearances with potential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — the ex-Long Island congressman warned: “If candidates that come up short and don’t rally behind the eventual winner — and encourage their followers to do the same — then that can have negative consequences that spill into the November ’24 election.”
Trump, 76, made waves within the GOP in 2016 when he disavowed a signed pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee if he didn’t get the nod.
Zeldin received Trump’s “Total & Complete Endorsement” when he ran a surprisingly strong race against Gov. Kathy Hochul last year.
Zeldin, 43, spoke to The Post ahead of launching a new corporate consulting company, Zeldin Strategies, which he said will specialize in strategy, public relations, crisis management and government relations.
“My experience comes from the military and national defense space,” said Zeldin, a former Army military intelligence officer-turned-judge advocate general reservist. “There are businesses that are focused on cybersecurity, national security, tech, and more.
“I’ve been an attorney now for over 19 years. I’m able to assist with that expertise,” he added.
Last year, DeSantis, 44, campaigned for Zeldin on Long Island, where he blamed Democrats for surging crime and sarcastically credited ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio for boosting property values in the Sunshine State by prompting New Yorkers to move there.
Zeldin repaid the favor last month by introducing DeSantis at an event on Staten Island, telling the gathering that “the state of Florida has an exceptional governor who has spent years now taking his state in the right direction.”
Recent polls of likely Republican primary voters have have shown DeSantis and Trump trading the lead ahead of the 2024 primaries, but a new tracking poll released Tuesday put Trump far out front, 54% to 26%.
Trump’s surge came as he braces for a potential arrest and prosecution by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over a $130,000 payment to cover up an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.
Trump has denied cheating on wife Melania Trump with Daniels.