Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin is hoping Donald Trump will make it rain campaign cash next month in New Jersey — as the former president is scheduled to appear at a pricey fundraiser for the Long Island congressman.
Trump’s guest appearance at the Sept. 4 event signals he might take a more outspoken role in the gubernatorial contest in his home state after remaining neutral ahead of the June 28 GOP primary for governor.
More involvement by Trump gives the Suffolk Republican a financial boost amid ongoing attacks by his Democratic opponent Gov. Kathy Hochul over his ties to the controversial Republican president, who is unpopular in the Empire State and is mired in legal clouds following an FBI raid at his Florida residence.
“Zeldin’s so linked to President Trump that he may as well benefit financially from it,” GOP political operative Bill O’Reilly told The Post of Zeldin getting help from the 45th president, who remains overwhelmingly popular with GOP donors and voters.
A Zeldin spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tickets for the event in Deal, NJ cost $1,000 to attend a reception hosted by the Chera real estate family, $5,000 for a “VIP reception” and $25,000 more for a “photo opportunity” with Trump, according to a flyer posted by NY1 to Twitter Tuesday.
The event appears to be hosted by the family of the late real estate mogul Stanley Chera, a longtime friend of Trump who died of COVID-19 in April 2020.
Zedlin had just $1.57 million in campaign cash, according to finance disclosures filed last month, while Governor Kathy Hochul had $11.7 million ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
A Siena College poll released earlier this month found Hochul with a 14-point lead against Zeldin – with 53% of registered voters favoring her compared to 39 for Zeldin – in a state where registered Democrats outnumber their Republican counterparts by two-to-one.
The poll also found just 32% of New Yorkers have a favorable view of Trump while 63% have an unfavorable view, according to the poll.
Hochul’s campaign has argued that the four-term congressman’s past support for Trump, including votes against certifying the 2020 presidential results from certain states, mean Zeldin is too extreme for New York voters.
No matter the scandal or investigation, Lee Zeldin has remained Donald Trump’s right-hand man, kissing the ring to fundraise off of the disgraced former president,” Hochul campaign manager Brian Lenzmeier said in a statement.
“No matter how egregious, Zeldin continues to shamelessly support Trump’s far-right MAGA agenda every step of the way,” Lenzmeier added.
