By John Gizzi
In returns that stunned even her most fervent supporters, State Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis rolled up nearly 60 percent of the vote to unseat Democratic Rep. Max Rose in New York’s 11th District.
The daughter of Greek and Puerto Rican parents, Malliotakis, 39, carried the ballot lines of the Republican and New York Conservative Parties.
In capturing a district that includes all of Staten Island and a small portion of Brooklyn, Malliotakis clearly benefited from the issue of law and order.
Focusing her campaign fire on the crime issue, she was endorsed by several local and national police organizations and appeared at rallies supporting the New York Police Department
And my opponent appeared at rallies and marches for ‘Black Lives Matter and ‘Defund the Police,’” Malliotakis told Newsmax a week before the vote, “That just doesn’t go over well here.”
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar and other Empire State conservatives believe that Rose was hurt by his endorsement from liberal Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is widely disliked by the law enforcement community. Three years ago, Malliotakis carried the Republican and Conservative banners against DiBlasio.
Malliotakis now becomes the first Republican woman to represent New York City in the House.
