
Center Moriches resident Brendon Henry announced on Friday morning that he is suspending his campaign for the Democratic congressional nomination.
Mr. Henry failed to submit the required 1,250 signatures supporting his candidacy by Thursday's deadline to get on the ballot for the Democratic Party primary in June.
"It came down to the wire, and we just ran out of time," the longtime Southampton Publick House and Buckley's Inn Between bartender and co-founder of the annual Cabin Fever Music Festival said in a message. "This isn't the end, just a speed bump on the way to facilitate the change we want."
In a statement sent to the Press, Mr. Henry said his campaign will support other candidates "of energy, intelligence, and character" in the race and will push for the priorities of the working and middle class.
Five Democratic congressional hopefuls submitted the requisite nominating petitions for their candidacy to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin for the 1st Congressional District seat.
Kate Browning, Vivian Villoria Fisher, Elaine DiMaisi, East Hampton resident Perry Gershon and David Pechefsky all submitted petitions with the signatures of at least 1,250 registered Suffolk County Democrats by Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline.
As of mid afternoon on Thursday, Center Moriches resident Brendon Henry was still collecting signatures on his petitions. He said that he and his volunteers were working hard to attain enough signatures before the deadline.
Candidates may drop off their nominating petitions to the Suffolk County Board of Elections in Yaphank or send them by mail, as long as the mailing is postmarked no later than Thursday.
Mr. Zeldin also submitted his nominating petition to be the Republican candidate for a third term in office. His Democratic challenger will be chosen from among the crowded field by the party’s voters in a primary election to be held on June 26.
Mr. Zeldin, who is from Brookhaven Town, cruised to an easy win in the 2016 election over former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst but Democrats have been rallying to find a candidate who can unseat him in an election forecast to favor the Democratic Party because of dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump.
Mr. Zeldin started this campaign year with more than $1.3 million already in his campaign war chest.
Browning will win primary and figuratively torture Zeldin over his policies and relationships with Trump and Bannon. It will be humiliating but mercifully quick.
Mr. Henry says he wants to continue his efforts by supporting candidates who advocate for working people and the middle class as he does. He’s got it right; he should do that in this race and future races, and I wish him well.
He had the same "limited time to gather signatures" as did the other five candidates- all having met the required and beyond the numbers, signatures to get on the ballot.
Furthermore, if you check out his Facebook, he praises his support team- Camden Ackerman and Brian Tymann- both Pro Hills advocates-- so glad Brendon revealed ...more this info now; for sure, he wouldn't get my vote.
"I knew I could beat Zeldin (still could)" - a Brendon Henry quote.
As a bartender, perhaps HE'S drinking too much !
So delusional !!
JOE SHAW, CLOSE DOWN THE PSEUDONYMS (fake names)!
JOE SHAW, CLOSE DOWN THE PSEUDONYMS (fake names)!
Point well taken, but I think the message is more important than the messenger.November is approaching at full speed, and it is important that the voters know who the candidates are.
It is crucial that in CD1, we remove Lee Zeldin, candidate of the Neo Nazi Party, and replace him with a true life-long Democrat.
Going into the June 26 Democratic Primary, we have to select the one true Democrat who can defeat Zeldin-- PERRY GERSHON !
The other candidates running ...more on the Democratic Primary ballot are a Green Party resident of Brooklyn,N.Y., a Working Party convert, the 5 cents bag lady who is hiding from this "accomplishment." ?
Be proactive, go to Perry Gershon's Facebook/ Website, and you'll learn everything you need to know to make the right choice.