The Queens GOP selected Councilman Dan Halloran to run in the 6th Congressional District. He announced his candidacy on Monday at Bowne Park in Flushing. He'll compete in the general election in November. Forum Newsgroup photo by Luis Gronda.
The three Democrats lined up to fight for New York’s 6th Congressional District got a glimpse of their Republican challenger if they can make it through their primary.
GOP Councilman Dan Halloran won the backing of his party and announced on Monday that he will take on whoever comes out of the Democratic race among Assemblywoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.
Ensconsed by supporters at Bowne Park in Flushing, Halloran came out swinging on national security.
Democratic Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley formally announced her entrance into a primary on Thursday March 22nd in front of the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Forum Newsgroup photo by Jeremiah Dobruck.
“It is time that the people wake up to the fact that this president has been willing to compromise the national security of our friends like Israel and our own,” he said. “We need to be consistent in our foreign policy, to stand with our friends and allies and to make no mistake about it; Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and deserves our full, unwavering support.”
For the most part, the three Democratic candidates have refrained from attacking each other yet, and they seemed happy to have a new face to throw barbs at.
All three campaigns were quick to release statements tying Halloran to Washington Republicans and their recent moves on women’s issues and the newly released Republican budget.
“I look forward to a healthy discussion of the issues facing our Queens neighbors and am eager to hear how Councilman Halloran plans on justifying his party’s embrace of the Ryan-Boehner budget, which would gut vital social programs for seniors, the disabled, and working families,” Meng said.
Democratic Assemblyman Rory Lancman was the first to kick off his campaign on March 19, hitting themes targeted at unions and working-class voters. Photo courtesy of Rory Lancman's campaign.
“We’re not going back to the failed Bush/Cheney policies which helped crash our economy, strain our military, threaten social security and put a woman’s health at the mercy of others,” Lancman said.
“The last thing New York needs is another vote for the House Republican majority and their agenda of cutting taxes for millionaires, dismantling Medicare and Social Security and attacking women’s rights,” a Crowley spokesman said.
It was a week of kickoffs for the democrats as well. All three held events publicly announcing their candidacy.
Almost all of the campaigns have positioned Israel as a central issue in this election. Halloran and the Democrats have loudly called for strengthening relationships with the U.S. ally.
Crowley is the only one who hasn’t done so explicitly, sticking to a broader theme of homeland security.
“Washington needs a strong voice for Queens, a voice that will fight to protect key services like social security and Medicare, a voice that will fight to protect and encourage job growth by investing in our infrastructure, a voice that knows a sound education is the making of the American dream, a voice that understands the importance of protecting women’s rights and access to health care, a voice that understands the threats of terrorism,” Crowley said, flanked by her two sons at her announcement.
The Democrats will compete in a June 26 primary to see who will take on Halloran.
As the Democrats tried to tie him to the party in Washington, Halloran supporters were happy to do the same to whoever his opponents end up being.
“We have got to send this guy to Washington,” said Ozone Park Councilman Eric Ulrich at Halloran’s kickoff. “We need people that have common sense, that will bring a level of bi-partisanship to Washington, that will hold the line on out of control spending and make sure that Obama doesn’t lead this country off of a cliff.”
Democractic Assemblywoman Grace Meng, surrounded by ranking Queens Democrats, officially announced her candidacy with an event on March 25 before heading back to Albany. Photo courtesy of Grace Meng's campaign.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
