In the News

WASHINGTON — Three of Long Island’s four U.S. House members say they won't be starting partisan fights by endorsing each other's election challengers, abiding by the non-aggression rule of a bipartisan group they’ve joined in Washington.

Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi and GOP Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino each confirmed this week that they won't be endorsing against each other — following this week’s primary elections that settled which Republican and which Democrats will be running against them.

They also are not endorsing challengers to any of the dozens of congressional colleagues nationally who sit across the political aisle from them but are members of the self-described Problem Solvers Caucus. That, even as majority control of the U.S. House now narrowly held by Republicans could teeter on just a handful of net seat gains or losses by either party in this fall’s elections.

WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND     
▪    Three of Long Island’s four U.S. House members say they won't be starting partisan fights by endorsing each other's election challengers, abiding by the non-aggression rule of a bipartisan group they’ve joined in Washington.     
▪    They also are not endorsing challengers to any of the dozens of congressional colleagues nationally who sit across the political aisle from them but are members of the self-described Problem Solvers Caucus.     
▪    Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi and GOP Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino each confirmed this week that they'll follow the caucus rules, even as majority control of the U.S. House hangs on this fall’s elections.

"It's a bit of a head scratcher," said Donald Nieman, a history professor at Binghamton University, though he noted all three represent politically swingy areas and have built personal brands around bipartisanship.

"But bottom line," Nieman said, "they're politicians who have grown up in a world where parties are weak and don't mean much to voters or to candidates themselves. It's every person for him or herself." On the other hand, veteran New York Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said positive relationships could have benefits. "Less intense competition, one might argue, gets more done for Long Island when representatives from all sides of the aisle cooperate," Sheinkopf said.

Seeking collaboration
A spokeswoman for Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), pointed to the bylaws of the Problem Solvers group, which he co-chairs. "Congressman Suozzi is precluded from getting involved in campaigns against the Problem Solvers Caucus," Kim Devlin said. In a separate statement, Garbarino (R-Bayport) said, "As Vice Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, I stand by our mission to find consensus, not fuel division. In keeping with the caucus’s goal of fostering collaboration, its members are prohibited from endorsing against a fellow caucus member." And LaLota (R-Amityville) offered in a statement that, "While I hold strong common-sense conservative values, I am a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus because I believe partisan gridlock serves no one and that compromise is often necessary to move America forward."

LaLota said he’s still working to prevent Democrats from flipping the House majority. But he said, "the caucus’s bylaws — designed to foster bipartisan cooperation — prohibit members from campaigning against fellow members of the caucus."

Long Island's fourth U.S. representative, Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), is not a member of the Problem Solvers. Her office did not immediately provide an answer to whether she will endorse the Democrats who are running against Republican colleagues LaLota and Garbarino.

The campaigns of LaLota’s Democratic foe, Chris Gallant; Garbarino’s Democratic challenger, Patrick Halpin; and Suozzi’s GOP foe, Michael LiPetri each either did not respond or declined to provide comment. Multiple sources who are familiar with their activities say at least two of the Long Island challengers extended feelers to the incumbents from their own parties — only to be advised endorsements won’t occur because of the Problem Solvers no-endorsement rule.

The caucus, founded in 2017, is an offshoot of the nonpartisan group No Labels and was devised to be a critical voting bloc, its membership a balanced mix of Republicans and Democrats.

Regional cooperation
Steve Israel, a former Long Island congressman who chaired the House Democratic caucus’ campaign arm, said it makes sense for members of Congress, especially those from the same region, to maintain good relationships. "At the end of the day, you have to get past the politics and govern together." "I had a similar arrangement, but a bit less formal and more of an implicit understanding," Israel said. "The understanding was that we might have to endorse a candidate in our party, but it wouldn’t be bombastic, wouldn’t criticize the member, and everyone would get advanced notice. It did make the climate easier and more productive when we had to get in a room and discuss regional issues."

The relevant section of the group’s bylaws shown to Newsday states: "Members will not actively oppose fellow Caucus members." It says that means: "Not endorsing candidates running against fellow Caucus members, including not engaging in any way, shape or form directly or indirectly against any fellow Caucus member" either in a primary or general election. Caucus members who are found in breach of these standards can receive a formal warning on a first offense. They are at risk of being banished for a second offense to "inactive status" for the remainder of the two-year Congress. "It is said there are no friendships in Congress but, strictly speaking, that’s not true — especially when it comes to members of informal caucuses like Problem Solvers," Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University said. Lawmakers form such non-aggression pacts with fellow incumbents knowing their respective challengers, if elected, "might not be so collegial."