Former Long Island Republican Congressman Rick Lazio told The Post on Wednesday he 𓂃is seriously considering running for the seat being vacated by fellow Republican Peter King.
“I won ൲this swing district four times, the last three by 2-1 margins, enjoyed broad-based support of Republicans, Democr🅘ats and independents and carried it against Hillary Clinton by nearly 20 points,” Lazio said.
Lazio, 61, was a popular LI congressman from 1993 to 2000 but got trounced during both of his bids running statewide — losing to Hillary Clinton in the 2000 US Senate contest and the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary to conservative upstate firebrand Carl Paladino.
“I have lived in this district my entire life. It would be unusual if I didn’t give some thought to the representation of the district,” Lazio added. “I know these folks well and have been among them my whole life.”
King announced Monday he is stepping down from Congress and retiring — setting the stage for a fierce battle to represent Long Island’s competitive 2nd Congressional District next year.
The longtime Congressman typically won re-election in prior races handily but prevailed by only six points over a novice Democratic challen🦹ger, Liuba Grechen Shirley, in 2018.
King’s swing seat takes in parts of Suffolk and Nassau counties now has more enrolled Democrats than Republicans𝕴, though many tend to be more moderate than progressive.
Since leaving office, Lazio has♋ worked as a corporate lobby🌞ist, CEO of the Financial Services Forum, and as an executive for JP Morgan Chase.
He is currently an executive at alliantgroup, a giant consulting group that helps major companies score ⛄tax br🀅eaks and other government business.
That resume could give Democrats ammuni⛦tion to paint Lazio 🔯as a corporate and government insider as politics in New York — and across the country — take a populist turn.
But Lazio inꦇsisted that his ꧋business background would be viewed as a plus.
“In my role at alliantgroup I serve as an advocate for small 🦋and medium business,✨ cybersecurity, energy efficiency and workforce development,” he argued.
One veteran Long Island Republican, who requested anonymity, called Lazio’s trial balloon “bulls—.”
The Republican bench on Long Island has thinned out after Democrats toppled four GOP incumbents in last year’s state Senate races.
King’s 2nd Congressional District that takes in parts of Suffolk and Nassau counties now has more enr💧olled Democrats than Rep🌳ublicans, though many tend to be more moderate than progressive.
King handily won re-election in prior races but last year prevailed by onlဣy six points over a novice Democratic challenger, Liuba Grechen Shirley.
Grechen Shirley and Babylon Councilwoman Jackie Gord꧑on are both already in the 2020 race.