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A Republican state Senate candidate blasted his Democratic opponent — claiming the challenger improperly used public funds to pay for mailers that promoted his party’s candidates up and down the ballot.
Assemblyman Jarrett Gandolfo (R-Suffolk County) claimed that Democrat Josh Taveras sent mailers to voters in the 8th Senate District urging them to “vote the whole ticket” — allegedly violating rules of a state program that offers candidates a public “match” for donations under $200.
“Start at the top. Don’t stop until you reach the bottom,” text on the mailer said before listing Democratic 2nd congressional district candidate Pat Halpin, Taveras, and downballot candidates for county comptroller and clerk.
“Vote Democratic, all the way down” it also says in addition to bashing “MAGA Washington.”
Taveras has received over $127,000 of public matching dollars, per BOE records.
Under the state’s campaign finance matching program, candidates are specifically forbidden from using the public funds to support any other candidates, which Gandolfo is arguing Taveras did on his mailer.
“They have blatantly violated New York State Election Law. It makes me question if his candidacy is serious, or if it exists solely to funnel money to other candidates,” Gandolfo told The Post.
“It’s corruption of the Public Campaign Finance system and it demands immediate investigation and accountability for all involved,” he added.
The mailer may also violate limits on how much local candidates can spend supporting candidates on the federal level.
Anthony Pileggi, senior campaign consultant to 2nd District Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), whose opponent appears in the mailer, called for the Federal Elections Commission to investigate the matter.
“This is a blatant disregard for federal election law and exactly the kind of political corruption Long Islanders are tired of,” Garbarino’s rep said.
“The FEC should investigate this matter and hold those responsible accountable,” he added.
Kelly Perry, Taveras’ campaign treasurer, said the campaign stands behind “every word of this mailer.”
“Before printing literature featuring the Democratic slate in our district, our campaign consulted with the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board (PCFB) and they confirmed it was acceptable,” Perry said.
“Every claim is sourced, and every quote is their own. Clearly our opponents are uncomfortable seeing their record in print,” she added.
Gandolfo was first elected to the state Assembly in 2020 after serving as Garbarino’s chief of staff.
The 8th District is currently represented by state Sen. Alexis Weik (R-Suffolk), who chose not to seek reelection this year. Weik won with 67% of the vote in 2024 and 69% of the vote in 2022.
