There is a new candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination to represent New York’s First Congressional District, a consequence of the recent redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts that followed the decennial census.
Jackie Gordon, a United States Army veteran and teacher, had been a candidate for the Democrats’ nomination to represent New York’s Second District this year. She ran unsuccessfully in the Second District in 2020, losing to the Republican candidate, Andrew Garbarino, by seven percentage points.
But the New York State Legislature voted on Feb. 2 to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The First District has expanded westward to encompass more Democratic-leaning territory, and has lost the Republican-heavy western part of Southampton Town to the Second District. Whereas the First District once spanned the five East End towns, Brookhaven, and part of Smithtown, it will now stretch from the East End into Nassau County, encompassing parts of Islip, Babylon, and Huntington, and into Oyster Bay, apparently concentrating more Democratic-leaning voters.
On the redrawn map of congressional districts, Ms. Gordon’s Copiague residence now lies in the First District and not the Second, where she had been mounting a campaign for a rematch with Mr. Garbarino. She announced the change on Feb. 3 on social media.
“New York just finished its redistricting process, and I am proud to share that I am continuing my campaign for Congress in New York’s newly drawn First Congressional District,” she wrote on Facebook. “I’m running for Congress because I am a fighter for Long Island’s working families and my home. I will fight to protect our environment, for lower costs for families, and to keep our communities safe. As an immigrant and as a veteran, I’ve raised my hand 11 times to serve our country, and I’m excited about raising it a 12th; this time, for Long Island.”
The First District is now considered one of the Democrats’ best opportunities to flip a congressional seat. Ms. Gordon noted on Twitter that President Joe Biden won within the redrawn district’s boundaries by 11 percentage points in 2020, whereas former President Donald Trump won within the previous boundaries by four percentage points. The incumbent, Representative Lee Zeldin, is campaigning for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor of New York.
A native of Jamaica, Ms. Gordon grew up in Queens. According to her campaign’s website, she enlisted in the Army Reserve while attending college and teaching. Over a 29-year career, she served in Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She was on the Babylon Town Board from 2007 to 2020, chairing its Veterans Advisory Council.
She has won endorsements from a dozen members of the House of Representatives, three Babylon Town councilmen and the town clerk, and numerous advocacy groups.
As of yesterday, Ms. Gordon’s campaign had not responded to requests for comment.
Ms. Gordon joins the race just four months before a June 28 primary election, with early voting to happen from June 18 to 26. Suffolk County Legislators Bridget Fleming and Kara Hahn previously declared their candidacy for the Democrats’ nomination.
Election Day is Nov. 8.
