Rep. Max Rose Concedes to Nicole Malliotakis

By Yehudit Garmaise

 Republican Nicole Malliotakis has clinched the race against incumbent Max Rose (D) to represent New York’s 11th Congressional District, which some consider the city’s only swing district, and others consider the city’s most conservative district.

   Malliotakis, a former state Assemblywoman, will be sitting in the only Republican seat in the city’s delegation of Congressional seats, won on a platform of strengthening family values and public safety, and decreasing crime rates.

     Rose may have lost his bid for re-election in June, when he participated in a Staten Island demonstration that protested the death of George Floyd.       Understanding the area’s conservative bent, Malliotakis made Rose’s participation in the protest into a focal point of her campaign, as she repeatedly accused Mr. Rose of supporting the Defund-the-Police efforts, which are unpopular in the district that covers Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn. 

     “She exploited Rose’s moderacy, and made much of the fact that he participated in a B.L.M. rally, and that played really well with the communities in the South Shore,” said Richard Flanagan, a professor of political science at the College of Staten Island, the New York Times reported.

   In addition, Malliotakis repeatedly tied Rose to his more progressive peers, such House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Mayor de Blasio, although in an ad, Rose had famously called Mayor de Blasio, “the worst mayor in the history of New York City.”

   Today, Rose conceded in a statement in which he said that as the vote count became clear, there was no path to victory.

“As we continue to count every ballot and are on track to dramatically narrow the gap...it is now clear that we will fall short of 50.1%,” Rep. Rose said. “I have called to congratulate Congresswoman Malliotakis on her win and concede the race. I promise every resident of the 11th Congressional District that we will ensure a smooth transition.”