Lee Zeldin
Encyclopedia
Lee M. Zeldin is a Republican
member of the New York State Senate
, representing the 3rd district.
Zeldin was raised in Shirley, New York
, and graduated from William Floyd High School in 1998. He received a B.A. (cum laude) in political science from the State University of New York at Albany in 2001 and earned his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School
in May 2003.
Upon graduation from law school, he received an Army ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant, assigned to the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army
. He became a member of the New York State Bar in January 2004 at the age of 23. In 2006, Zeldin was deployed to Iraq
as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, he transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserves and later established a law practice. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
, the American Legion
, and the Jewish War Veterans.
In 2008, he made an unsuccessful attempt for U.S. Congress, running in New York's 1st congressional district
against Tim Bishop
and winning 41.6 percent of the vote. Zeldin was elected to the state senate in November 2010, defeating the Democratic
incumbent Brian X. Foley
. He serves as the chairman of the committee on Consumer Protection.
He and his wife Diana reside in Shirley with their twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna. He holds a black belt in Taekwondo
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, representing the 3rd district.
Zeldin was raised in Shirley, New York
Shirley, New York
Shirley is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, Shirley population was 26,395....
, and graduated from William Floyd High School in 1998. He received a B.A. (cum laude) in political science from the State University of New York at Albany in 2001 and earned his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
in May 2003.
Upon graduation from law school, he received an Army ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant, assigned to the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He became a member of the New York State Bar in January 2004 at the age of 23. In 2006, Zeldin was deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, he transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserves and later established a law practice. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, and the Jewish War Veterans.
In 2008, he made an unsuccessful attempt for U.S. Congress, running in New York's 1st congressional district
New York's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern Long Island. It includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold,...
against Tim Bishop
Tim Bishop
Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton,...
and winning 41.6 percent of the vote. Zeldin was elected to the state senate in November 2010, defeating the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Brian X. Foley
Brian X. Foley
Brian X. Foley was a State Senator representing the 3rd District of the New York State Senate. He was elected to his first political office in 1993, representing the Seventh District in the Suffolk County Legislature. He was re-elected five times to the seat once held by his father, John Foley. In...
. He serves as the chairman of the committee on Consumer Protection.
He and his wife Diana reside in Shirley with their twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna. He holds a black belt in Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
.