STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The 23rd state Senate District, which includes the North Shore and parts of Brooklyn, is one of the most heavily Democratic districts on Staten Island.
But Republican Joe Tirone says that he sees a path to victory for the seat.
“I think that things have been changing significantly over the years,” said Tirone, who runs the Joe Tirone Team of Compass real estate firm in Stapleton.
State Sen. Diane Savino is leaving the Senate seat after 17 years in office. Savino aide Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is the Democratic candidate in the race.
GOP OPPORTUNITY?
Tirone said that he was encouraged by the showings made in the district, particularly on the Brooklyn side, by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012 and by GOP President Donald Trump in 2020.
Tirone also pointed to the victory of Republican Inna Vernikov in the 48th City Council District in Brooklyn last year, which has some overlap with the 23rd Senate District.
“I wouldn’t have put my money into this campaign, and I wouldn’t spend my time on this campaign, if I didn’t recognize the opportunity,” said Tirone, who also has the Conservative Party line in the race.
Tirone said that Democratic leadership had led the state down the wrong path on bail reform and other issues.
On Staten Island in particular, he said, “Democrats are tired of the way things are going and are almost embarrassed to be part of that party.”
It’s Tirone’s second bid for public office.
In 2014, he launched a successful opportunity-to-ballot campaign for the Conservative line against Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island). Cusick defeated Tirone in the general election that year.
ROSY MIDTERM OUTLOOK. WITH A CAVEAT
Tirone said that with high crime and other issues at the forefront, the playing field also looks bright for Republicans in this fall’s midterm congressional elections.
“I think that there’s going to be a pushback,” Tirone said. “And not just from Republicans but I think from Democrats who have had enough and who don’t really align with their party anymore because Democratic leadership has changed.”
But there’s one caveat, he said.
“I think it would have been a tremendous wave had it not been for the recent Supreme Court decisions,” he said, alluding primarily to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“I think that that kind of stemmed the tide a little bit,” Tirone said.
However, he said, “In a way, as things continue to deteriorate around the country, by the time the midterms come, I think the Republicans are going to do really well.”
Tirone said that he would also rely on the name recognition that his business career and his work on Hurricane Sandy recovery have brought him here.
His name is also well known thanks to Tirone’s father, Joseph, and uncles, who ran Tirone’s Shoe Store in Port Richmond for more than 60 years.
Tirone said he also expects to be boosted by what appears to be a tightening race between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.
“Certainly if Lee Zeldin does well, I think I’m going to do very, very well,” he said.
NO TO TRUMP
But Tirone acknowledged that some voters, including Republicans, have shied away from the GOP because of former President Donald Trump.
“I’ve come across that,” said Tirone, who supported Trump in 2016 and in 2020. “I’ve met several people who are concerned about me being a Trumpster.”
Tirone called himself a moderate Republican who’s “very passionate” about certain issues, including storm resiliency and the environment, areas where he differed with Trump.
And even though Tirone said some of Trump’s policies “were fantastic,” he said wouldn’t support Trump running for the White House again in 2024.
“I thought it was a shame that he lost in 2020 but in a way I was relieved because the tension in the country was getting to a point of no return,” Tirone said. “And I believe that if he’d been elected, there would have been riots that would have done damage that was irreparable damage.”
He said, “I’m sure [the Dems] would have been trying to say he stole the election. It would have been a nightmare.”
Trump, Tirone said, is “too much in your face and he turns too many people off.”
Tirone said he would rather Trump back a candidate for president, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or someone else like-minded, “but without that crazy character flaw. I think the Republicans would do much better that way.”
Tirone also said that Democratic President Joe Biden, 79, is too old to run for a second term.
“I mean, look at him, that’s a horrendous thing,” Tirone said. “That is such a travesty.”
Tirone said, “He’s not capable. He’s not able to run this country. You can see that the guy is a mere shadow of his former self.”
(This article has been updated to reflect that there is no Working Families Party candidate in the race for the 23rd State Senate District seat, according to the New York State Board of Elections website.)
