Sag Harbor Woman Wants To Challenge Zeldin In 2018 Midterm Election

A Sag Harbor woman has announced her intention to challenge U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin in 2018, becoming the first person to declare interest in unseating the incumbent Republican who just won reelection to New York’s 1st Congressional District in November.

Hannah Selinger, 36, a trained sommelier, longtime activist and lifelong Democrat, said on Monday that last week’s narrow approval of the American Health Care Act in the House of Representatives—a bill that was supported by Mr. Zeldin and designed to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act—inspired her to throw her hat in the ring 18 months before the next congressional election.

“It’s deeply unpopular in the district,” said Ms. Selinger, who is originally from New York City and moved to the East End six years ago, about the American Health Care Act. She added that she thinks the legislation, which still needs to be approved in the U.S. Senate, is “bad for New York and bad for the country.”

To help fund her effort, Ms. Selinger, who writes a wine column for the Arts & Living section of The Press, launched a GoFundMe page and, as of Tuesday morning, had raised more than $1,200 of her $5,000 goal.

Though she describes herself as more of a progressive candidate, Ms. Selinger said she would like to address issues that concern all individuals, such as climate change and the economy.

While she has no prior experience running for public office, and would still need to secure Democratic Party endorsement, Ms. Selinger thinks she is a solid candidate. She noted that she worked as a congressional intern for Democratic U.S. Representative Nita Lowey, who represents the Bronx, in 1999, and is a member of the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons.

She also noted that she participated in a protest outside of Trump Towers in New York City in November while she was nine months pregnant, and also attended the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., in January. She and her domestic partner, Dan Palmer, now have a 5-month-old son, Nathaniel Palmer.

“I’ve always been engaged in social issues,” Ms. Selinger said. “I’m young, I’m engaged and I want what’s best—not only for the district, but also for the country … I may not have the national or local governmental experience, but I think we’ve seen over the last year that’s not necessary for public office anymore.”

State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., also of Sag Harbor, has said he is “actively exploring” the possibility of a challenge to Mr. Zeldin’s House seat, but he said on Tuesday, “I do not expect to make a decision until later this year.”