A Veteran Enters the Congressional Race

Robert Cornicelli, a Republican/Conservative and 100%- service connected disabled veteran and who is an advocate for veterans and the developmentally disabled, has announced that he is seeking the G.O.P. nomination for the First Congressional District seat.

"I'm sick of sitting on the sidelines watching politicians play to special interests and not give a damn about you or me," Mr. Cornicelli said in an Aug. 7 Facebook post. "I'm in this race to make sure every voice is heard and to look out for the little guy. . . . Together we'll take back control and make sure our voices are heard!"

The seat is held by Lee Zeldin, a Republican who appears to be the G.O.P. candidate of choice for governor of New York. Two Democrats, Bridget Fleming and Kara Hahn, both Suffolk County legislators, are vying for their party's nomination for Congress.

Mr. Cornicelli served for eight years in the Navy, and at age 32, following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he enlisted in the Army. He said he was wounded while serving in Kuwait in 2012, resulting in disability, and officially retired from the service in 2017 as a captain.