Bolstered by a big win in his county during last month’s midterm congressional elections, the head of the Rockland GOP, Lawrence Garvey, is throwing his hat in the ring to become the next chairman of the New York Republican Party — boasting that he knows how to win on Democratic-leaning turf.
Garvey, who has been the Rockland leader for eight years, pointed to Republican candidates’ successes in a county where enrolled Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1.
He cited local state Assemblyman Michael Lawler’s stunning victory over Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney for a redrawn House seat in the Hudson Valley last month — helping Republicans reclaim the House majority, as a feather in his cap.
“We had a fantastic year. Michael Lawler slayed the proverbial dragon,” Garvey said in a letter he’s circulating to county Republican leaders and party committee members across the state.
He also noted that Republican Bill Weber defeated first-term Democrat incumbent
Sen. Elijah Reichlin- Melnick to reclaim a senate seat for the GOP in the area. And Garvey added that Republican John McGowan kept Lawler’s assembly seat in GOP hands.
“In a county where we have a 2-to-1 Democrat to Republican enrollment disadvantage and a 1-to-1 Independent to Republican enrollment, we have consistently won races year after year. Our county executive is a Republican and three of the five towns are in Republican hands. We proudly stand up for our values in Rockland and successfully pull voters across the aisle each and every election to win,” he wrote.
“This is the mentality we must bring statewide. In a Democratic state, we must work harder and smarter to attract voters from all backgrounds, all political persuasions, all religions, all corners of our state. Our focus must be to even the playing field and that begins with voter registration drives. It’s critical that we grow. New Yorkers believe in our message and they agree with our principles, let’s enroll them and make it official!”
GOP insiders said the race to succeed state GOP chairman Nick Langworthy, who was elected to Congress to represent a Buffalo regional district and will step down as party leader in January, is wide open.
Sources say outgoing Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin, who ran a surprisingly competitive race as the Republican candidate for governor, and outgoing GOP chairman Nick Langworthy will have a big say in the matter. Zeldin considered — but recently bowed out — of running to become the next Republican National Committee chairman.
Also having a say are the Long Island GOP, which has the largest voice in the state party, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chairwoman.
Other potential candidates mentioned for state GOP chairman, according to sources, include former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Assembly members Colin Schmitt and Chris Tague.