This week, I had the honor of attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here is a recap of the week’s extraordinary events.

Day 1: We Have a Nominee

On Monday afternoon, Trump announced his Vice President, and news of his pick quickly filled the stadium where the voting was taking place. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio was chosen as the rightful pick, putting forward a new visionary for American politics. Americans need another Trump presidency to stem the tide of liberalism that the Biden Administration represents, and J.D. Vance is a person who will fight for working class Americans who have not had their voices heard for the last four years. You can read our full press release on soon-to-be Vice President Vance here:

The New York delegation, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and Rep. Mike Lawler were also there to represent conservative politics. Rep. Stefanik had the honor of declaring all of New York’s 91 delegates had voted for President Trump. During the final speech of the evening, Senator Vance, Rep. Lawler and Rep. Malliotakis were hailed as heroes by Teamsters Union President, Sean O’Brien, saying that they are “elected officials who truly care about working people.”

Finally, at the end of the night, Donald Trump made his triumphant return after Saturday’s assassination attempt. With the crowds chanting his name and telling him to fight on, Trump seemed grateful, both for the love his supporters give him and his new lease on life.

Days 2 & 3: Make America Safe and Strong Again

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R/C-NY) took to the stage on day two to acknowledge that this is the most important election of our lifetime and “our constitution and the soul of our very nation are on the ballot.” Gov. Ron DeSantis, put forward the Trump agenda, calling for common sense changes to protect the border, the economy, and Americans as a whole. Nikki Haley called for unity, saying that she may not agree with everything Trump stands for or wants to do, but she agrees more often than she disagrees, and therefore, “for the sake of our nation, we have to go with Donald Trump.” You can view our full press release on night two here:

The NYS Conservative Party was thrilled that New York’s very own Lee Zeldin, had a prime-time speaking spot on night three of the convention. After almost unseating Governor Kathy Hochul in a deep blue state, Lee’s message echoed across the Country. He brought his enthusiasm to Milwaukee and knocked it out of the park. To be frank, I can’t think of another political leader with a brighter future than Lee. You can read our full press release on night three here.

Finally, at the end of night three, we heard from the next Vice President, J.D. Vance. First, Vance introduced himself to the country. Many people outside of Ohio had no idea who this freshman senator was; on Wednesday, that changed. Vance, whose life story truly symbolizes the American dream, is the perfect person to represent America. Strategically, Vance revealed what he brought to the campaign: the Midwest. Many times throughout his speech he mentioned Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These are must-win states for the Trump campaign, and with an Ohioan on the ticket, the campaign has an extra advantage on Biden.

Day 4: Make America Great Once Again

Today, President Trump took to the stage in his highly anticipated speech. His 92-minute speech set the record for the longest nomination speech, during which he portrayed confidence, strength, and hope for the future. The President started by recalling the tragic events that happened last weekend and brought out the uniform of Corey Comperatore, asking for a moment of silence for his memory. The President made a pledge to the nation. He will end inflation, bring down interest rates, and lower energy costs. He will never stop fighting for us, repeating that this movement is not about him, but about the American people. When Trump returns to the White House in January, America will come first once again.

The last four days have been an experience I will never forget, never before have Conservatives and Republicans ever been so united behind a presidential candidate. This November we make the choice between America First and America Last. Today we stand behind, and fully endorse the next President and Vice President of the United States of America: Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance. You can read our full press release on night four here.

Help Trump and the Conservative Party

As election day draws near, we see time and time again that liberal policies are failing, and New Yorkers are taking notice. We are working to raise money for our campaign operations; help the Conservative Party fund its candidates for President, Congress, State Legislature, and local offices by supporting our efforts. Early money in a campaign is the most important funding in a campaign cycle. By working together, we can create a solid campaign budget for November’s elections. Your support would be greatly appreciated. You can donate by following this link here. If you would like to support us by mail, please make checks out to NYS Conservative Party, 486 78^th St. Brooklyn, NY 11209.

Independence Day

This week, the greatest nation on earth turns 248 years old. The New York State Conservative Party takes immense pride in honoring the significance of this remarkable day in our nation’s history–July 4th. On behalf of our members and supporters, we extend our warmest greetings and best wishes for a patriotic Fourth of July. 

In 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, 56 patriots risked their lives, boldly putting forward the idea that thirteen colonies could break away from the largest empire on the planet. Two and a half centuries later, we still believe “that all men are created equal, [and] that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Every Independence Day, among the hot dogs, hamburgers, and fireworks, we remember the spirit of America and her freedom that was ignited by our founding fathers and still lives on in each and every one of us. While we sometimes take it for granted, today we remember that America is the greatest country in the world. We as a nation cherish the individual freedoms, personal responsibility, and limited government that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution gives to us. Written in 1787, and still, our Constitution stands as the bedrock of our nation, and is acknowledged around the world as a beacon of Democracy. These values have formed the America we know and love today. 

In honor of Independence Day, I ask you to renew your commitment to preserving an American legacy for the years to come. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.” Today, let us teach our children how to be great Americans, striving to uphold and defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world, because here, freedom, opportunity, and justice are not just a dream, but an attainable reality. 

As we honor the birth of our great nation, we wish every American a joyous and meaningful Independence Day. May God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.

Presidential Debate

The presidential debate last night showcased a stark contrast between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Trump demonstrated a commanding presence, exuding confidence and composure, while Biden appeared disoriented and forgetful, struggling to articulate his points clearly. This disparity highlighted Trump’s readiness and capability to lead the nation, particularly as he focused heavily on pressing issues like the economy and immigration—areas that have been sources of significant concern for many Americans.

Trump presented himself as a calm and collected leader, while still pouncing on the failures of the Biden administration and laying out his goals. In contrast, Biden’s frequent lapses and vague responses raised serious questions about his mental acuity and ability to handle the responsibilities of the presidency. Sadly, the reality is most people wonder if he will even make it to November. 

The debate also underscored the media’s apparent bias in favor of Biden. Despite his evident struggles, the media has consistently portrayed him as capable and sharp, a narrative that seemed increasingly untenable in light of his performance. Even traditionally supportive outlets like CNN found it necessary to fact-check Biden’s numerous inaccurate statements, further eroding the facade of competence that has been maintained around him. It is not possible for Biden’s Press Secretary to spin this one in Joe’s favor; it was an utter failure and not a “cheap fake” as Karine likes to call Biden’s blunders. Jill Biden, and his family, should be ashamed they are putting Biden through this. Let him retire in Delaware and live the rest of his life in peace.  

This debate may well be remembered as a pivotal moment in the 2024 election, exposing significant weaknesses in Biden’s candidacy and casting doubt on his ability to continue as the Democratic nominee. The stark contrast between Trump’s decisive leadership and Biden’s evident frailty could lead to significant shifts in voter sentiment as November approaches. The question remains, who is running our country?

You can read our full press release here:

Patriots Podium Featuring Timothy Collmer

Patriots Podium episode #25 is out now! I was pleased to be joined by Timothy Collmer, the New York Commander of the American Legion. Tim, a retired correction officer, served 21 years as an active and reserve member of the Army. He has held numerous leadership positions on his post, county, district and state level, as well as a continuing role on the national level.

The American Legion, with 2 million members, is the nation’s oldest and largest veterans organization, is a highly respected advocate in support of servicemembers and veterans, a leading advocate for a strong national defense, and an outspoken voice for patriotism and honor. The department of New York has more than 110,000 members in over 800 posts throughout the states’ 62 counties. 

I know alot of our members, and supporters, are either veterans themselves, or have family and friends that served. I hope this podcast helps veterans with information, resources, and most of all, support whenever they need it. Just an aside, you don’t have to be a veteran to get involved in the Legion! Please share and give us a like:

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Spring Reception

Our 2024 Spring Reception, held last night at the New York Athletic Club in New York City, was an outstanding success. The event saw a fantastic turnout including a distinguished array of legislators, candidates, conservative activists and dignitaries, all gathering to celebrate and reinforce our shared values and commitment to conservative principles. 

The highlight of the evening was the honoring of our longtime Secretary, Howard Lim, with the prestigious Michael R. Long Award. This award, now in its second year, recognizes exceptional dedication and service to the Conservative Party, and Howard’s contributions over the years have truly embodied these qualities. The presence of the Long family, who attended in support of Howard, added a heartfelt touch to the celebration, underscoring the deep bonds and shared history within our party.

Our reception chairman, and Bronx County Conservative Chairman, Pat McManus, led us in the welcoming ceremony; followed by the one and only, Jim Kerr, our master of ceremonies, who himself is worthy of an award. 

Christian Browne, who is one of the lead attorneys fighting the proposed “Equal Rights Amendment” gave our audience an informative update on what to expect with Prop One this November. Recently, the Appellate Court ruled to reinstate the controversial Prop One initiative to November’s ballot, which reeked of partisanship and was bereft of legal substance. Our Party, and organizations like Protect Kids NY will do everything in our power to fight against this ill-conceived amendment. You can read our press release on the ERA here.

A special thank you to our sponsors, my assistant Eileen, our Director of Operations Andrew, and our newest intern Sean, for putting together a great event as always! To everyone who made this evening memorable, thank you, and congratulations Howard!

Siena Poll

Yesterday, Siena College Research Institute put out a poll that reflects what New Yorkers already know: Governor Kathy Hochul is a failed governor and a change needs to be made at the White House. What’s happening in Albany and Washington is unacceptable.

The Governor’s lowest-ever approval rating (38-49%) should come as no surprise. New Yorkers are exhausted by the cost of living in this state and by progressive policies that have triggered an ongoing crime and migrant crisis. Voters of all parties are coming to realize that the utopian promises of the political left are a cruel ruse, just like they’ve always been. You can read the full press release here.

Travels

On Saturday, we held our State Executive Committee meeting where we recognized four Conservative Party Members for their exceptional efforts in increasing conservative enrollment in their county. In addition, they received our “Torch of Freedom” pin for registering over 50 Conservatives each! Congratulations to Gonzalo Duran (Bronx), Jason Murillo (New York), Dion Powell (Bronx), and Pasquale Lagana (Westchester).

Wednesday evening, I was happy to take the trip to Suffolk County for a fantastic reception. Congratulations to James Kevins for being honored with the Suffolk County Conservative Party’s Lifetime Achievement Award!

Today, I headed back to Long Island for the GOP’s Protect the Vote Tour regarding ballot security. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley was in attendance explaining their operations and, I have to say, I am pleased with the efforts they have made and continue to make in NYS.