Estee-Lauder billionaire, 78, reveals he's given Zeldin campaign $11m to end NYC crime wave as he says 'you couldn't pay me to get on subway'
- Ronald Lauder, 78, the billionaire heir of Estee-Lauder has donated $11 million to the New York gubernatorial campaign of Republican Representative Lee Zeldin
- Lauder, who is a Trump-aligned Republican, says he wants Zeldin to tackle New York City's growing crime problem
- His cash injection caught incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul's campaign by surprise
- Lauder insists it is all about solving NYC's crime problem
- Recent campaign finance reports covering three weeks in October show Zeldin outraised Hochul by bringing in $3.6 million to her $3.4 million
Lauder, who has a net worth of $4.5 billion and is a Trump-aligned Republican has given millions of dollars to back conservative causes and candidates.
He and his brother, Leonard Lauder, are the sole heirs to the Estée Lauder cosmetics company, founded by their parents, Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder, in 1946
The very notion that the governor's office would be winnable for Republicans in New York, where there are twice as many Democrats as Republicans and a GOP governor has not been elected in 20 years, is the latest warning for Democrats that they could face deep losses in this year's midterm elections.
Zeldin, a congressman and ally of former President Donald Trump, has tightened the race in recent weeks after focusing for months on rising violent crime in New York with Lauder's money giving a much-needed boost to his chances of securing victory.
Ronald Lauder, 78, the billionaire heir of Estee-Lauder has donated $11 million to the New York gubernatorial campaign of Republican Representative Lee Zeldin
There has been a late-stage surge in funding by Republican Lee Zeldin which could result in an upset in the traditionally blue state
Lauder's cash injection forced Democrats to create a super PAC in New York to try and boost incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul's run as her polling and fund-raising advantages have slowly began to crumble as election day draws near.
It is a sure sign of the party's growing fears that a late-stage surge by her Republican rival could result in an upset in the traditionally blue state.
Should Zeldin win he would become the state's first GOP governor since George Pataki left office in 2006.
Hochul raised $50 million for her campaign over the course of a year while Zeldin only managed to raise about half that amount - but Lauder's involvement significantly narrowed the gap with Lauder being responsible for close to half of all pro-Zeldin spending between August and late October.
The money has gone towards a barrage of political ads that portray Hochul as being connected to the rise in crime and Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, being soft on crime.
Democrat Kathy Hochul
The Super PAC to which Lauder donated his $11 million has helped pay for newspaper ads and Zeldin lawn signs together with a texting campaign to drive turnout
The Super PAC to which Lauder donated has also paid for newspaper ads and Zeldin lawn signs together with a texting campaign.
Over the years, Lauder has donated money to art and philanthropy to Jewish causes but within the political sphere has has spent at least $35 million in the last few decades supporting Republicans for state and federal office including $200,000 to former President Donald Trump.
It was was Lauder who famously pitched the idea for Trump in 2019 to buy Greenland from Denmark. The former president even invoked his National Security Council to discuss the matter.
Since 2016, Lauder has donated more than $1.6 million to pro-Donald Trump organizations
This time around, Zeldin has made his focus the rising crime rates and a string of high-profile violent incidents, including some killings on the New York City subways. He blames Hochul and Democrats in Albany for not being tough enough on criminals.
Rates of violent crime and killings have broadly increased around the U.S. in Democrat cities under the Biden Administration.
Lauder is a Trump-aligned Republican who has donated millions of dollars to back conservative causes and candidates over the years
Ron is pictured here in his role as as American ambassador in Austria in Vienna in 1986
Crimes on New York City's subways are now up 41 percent over last year, murders in particular rising to their highest rates in 25 years.
US Rep and New York gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul for the latest rape incident and surge in crime in the Big Apple
Rates of murder, rape, robbery and assault have all increased across New York under the Democrats.
Ronald Lauder is the current President of the World Jewish Congress. He is pictured in October 2021
Over the years, Lauder has donated money to art and philanthropy and Jewish causes. He is pictured in December 2019, in front of the notorious gate at the site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp alongside former German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Lauder insists his motivations are simple and selfless and are driven with the sole aim of tackling crime and the fear of.
'It's a question of one thing I believe in, always have. I want two parties. I want a Republican and a Democratic Party. When you have just one party, I believe things go wrong,' he told the New York Times.
Lauder says he believes Hochul should have pushed harder to reverse changes to the state's bail law that bars prosecutors from asking for cash bail.
'You couldn't pay me to get on the subway,' Lauder said to the Times nothing that he does not want his children and grandchildren 'to have to go with bodyguards.'
Recent campaign finance reports covering three weeks in October show Zeldin outraised Hochul by bringing in $3.6 million to her $3.4 million
Lauder insists his fundraising motivations are simple and selfless, driven with the sole aim of tackling crime and the fear of. ' It's a question of one thing I believe in, always have. I want two parties. I want a Republican and a Democratic Party. When you have just one party, I believe things go wrong,' he said. He is pictured in 2019
'It has nothing to do with money for myself' he said. 'Frankly, if I was a different person, I would have moved already.'
The most recent campaign finance reports covering three weeks in October show that Zeldin outraised Hochul by bringing in $3.6 million to her $3.4 million.
Hochul, who took over as governor in August 2021 after former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, pictured alongside President Joe Biden during a visit on Sunday
Hochul pictured alongside former President Bill Clinton during a visit on Saturday
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