By Colin Campbell 4/02/12 2:12pm

lancman's loot

rory lancman

Rory Lancman Has $200,000 On Hand As Grace Meng Sets High Expectations

Assemblyman Rory Lancman has over $200,000 in his campaign chest as he seeks the Democratic nomination for an open Queens congressional seat, his campaign spokesman informed The Politicker this afternoon.

The total represents a nice chunk of change for his campaign to move forward with and is around double what one of his opponents, Councilwoman Liz Crowley, reportedly raised. It’s not immediately clear how much of that has been spent as she ramped up her campaign in the past two weeks. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/02/12 9:18am

crowley's cash

Liz Crowley (Photo: Facebook)

Liz Crowley Announces $100,000 War Chest

Councilwoman Liz Crowley, who’s competing for the Democratic nomination in a northeastern Queens congressional seat, announced an impressive $100,000 fundraising haul considering she announced her campaign just ten days ago.

“Support for Elizabeth Crowley is growing rapidly because people believe we need an independent voice for Queens neighborhoods in Congress,” her campaign’s spokesman, Eric Yun, said in a statement this morning. “No one will run a more competitive campaign.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/28/12 10:30am

NY-6

James Huntley and Rory Lancman

Lancman Nabs Another Union Nod

Assemblyman Rory Lancman’s campaign rumbles on.

This morning, he announced the endorsement of Communications Workers of America Local 1182, based in the northeastern Queens Congressional District he is campaigning for. In a statement, Local 1182 President James Huntley said his decision was based off of Mr. Lancman’s time in the State Assembly. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/27/12 11:06am

queens

grace meng announces

EMILY’s List Gets Behind Grace Meng

EMILY’s List, a prominent political action committee that aims elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates, has gotten behind Assemblywoman Grace Meng’s bid for Congress in Queens even though there’s another pro-choice Democratic female candidate in the race, Councilwoman Liz Crowley.

“Grace Meng is not just a strong candidate, she’s exactly the kind of fierce advocate for women and families that we need in Washington right now,” Stephanie Schriock, the organization’s president, said in a statement this morning. “Grace is a true progressive who will stand up to the radical Republican agenda and get things done in Congress.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/26/12 8:34pm

halloranapalooza

Councilman Halloran (Photo: Wikimedia)

Lancman and Meng Welcome Halloran Into Race With Knives [Update]

Queens Councilman Dan Halloran announced his campaign for Congress this evening declaring himself to be an “independent Republican,” but two of his Democratic opponents, Assembly Members Rory Lancman and Grace Meng, rushed to label him as the opposite.

The campaign of the third Democratic candidate in the race, Councilwoman Liz Crowley did not immediately return a request for comment took a slightly different tack and stressed her ability to defeat Mr. Halloran in November, while also still branding him as a typical Republican. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/26/12 7:42pm

king of queens

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Dan Halloran Announces for Congress and Gives Israel A Big Hug [Video]

GOP Councilman Dan Halloran announced for Congress earlier this evening and made it very, very clear how important Israel’s security is to him (in addition to discussing other staple issues like jobs and gas prices).

“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,” Mr. Halloran proclaimed today. “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 and unwavering support.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/25/12 4:02pm

grace in the race

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Grace Meng Announces for Congress With Emphasis on Protecting Israel [Video]

As the rain came drizzling down earlier this afternoon, Assemblywoman Grace Meng formally kicked off her Congressional bid surrounded by a small army of Queens Democratic elected officials.

If successful, she will be the first Asian-American Congressional Member elected anywhere on the East Coast of the United States. However, the historic nature of her candidacy went unmentioned today, and was possibly even downplayed slightly as her campaign signs contained only her first name.

Instead, in addition to focusing on traditional Democratic themes like education and labor, Ms. Meng’s announcement event seemed at least partially geared towards the district’s sizable Jewish constituency. One of her two opponents, Assemblyman Rory Lancman, has struck out with an Israel-oriented campaign platform and Ms. Meng clearly isn’t interested in being outflanked on the issue. Read More

By David Freedlander and Colin Campbell 3/24/12 3:31pm

NY-6

DH-10_pp

Dan Halloran Announcing Congressional Run Monday

Queens Republican Councilman Dan Halloran will announce on Monday that he is running for Congress for the seat currently held by retiring Rep. Gary Ackerman.

Mr. Halloran is so far the only announced Republican interested in the seat. Three Democrats are vying for it so far, including Assemblyman Rory Lancman, Assemblywoman Grace Meng and City Councilwoman Liz Crowley.

It is a race that is, at the very least, bound to be entertaining–the Queens County Democratic Party has backed Ms. Meng, even though Ms. Crowley is first cousins with the leader of the party, Congressman Joe Crowley. And Mr. Lancman has had his eye on Congress for nearly a year, first preparing to run against Congressman Bob Turner, until he was redistricted out, then against Mr. Ackerman, until he retired. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/23/12 11:30am

NY-6

Elizabeth Crowley (Photo: Facebook)

Liz Crowley Hires Campaign Manager

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who’s running for a new open Congressional District in Queens, has hired State Senator Toby Stavisky’s Chief of Staff Avi Fink to manage her campaign.

Interestingly, Ms. Stavisky is close to the Queens Democratic Party and was one of the party leaders who successfully nominated Assemblywoman Grace Meng for the establishment’s formal endorsement in the race, even though Ms. Crowley is the cousin of the Democratic establishment’s leader Congressman Joe Crowley.

The news, first reported by the Daily News‘ Alison Gendar, was subsequently confirmed in an email Mr. Fink circulated to his contacts. Read More

By Colin Campbell 6:22pm

Liz Crowley announces for Congress

Liz Crowley Announces for Queens Congressional Seat [Video]

Councilwoman Liz Crowley formally announced her campaign for Congress this afternoon standing beneath the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park.

“As a daughter from Queens, from a very young age I felt the calling for public service,” she declared with her supporters standing behind her.

Her campaign message relied heavily on broad Democratic themes: Read More