Nassau County Democrats challenge Republican campaign mailers

Democratic candidates in Nassau County, New York, have issued cease and desist letters to the New York State Republican Party, accusing them of distributing campaign mailers containing false and divisive claims. The Democratic candidates allege the mailers attempt to portray them as funding antisemitic and anti-American agendas to sow community division ahead of the upcoming election.

Specific targets include State Assembly candidate Dean Tarulli, who disputed a mailer that placed his photo next to a quote stating, “America deserved 9/11,” claiming the quote was actually attributed to commentator Hasan Piker. Other candidates, including Port Washington Police Commissioner Sean McCarthy and State Assembly candidate Kim Keiserman, also reported receiving mailers containing what they described as untrue accusations regarding their political stances and affiliations.

The New York State Republican Party has defended the mailings. A spokesperson stated that every claim made in the materials is “factual and backed up by citations.” Republican leadership argued that the mailers are legitimate critiques of the Democratic platform, linking the local candidates to broader political figures and ideologies.