New York gubernatorial candidate attacked by knife-wielding man during speech

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NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, was attacked by a man who tried to stab him at an event in upstate Thursday, but managed to walk away unscathed, his campaign said.

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Zeldin was giving a speech when a man took the stage and appeared to start struggling with the congressman, said Zeldin campaign spokeswoman Katie Vincentz.

New York GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy told The Associated Press that he had no details about the attacker or his weapon, but later exchanged text messages with Zeldin while the member of the Congress was talking to the police.

« He’s fine. He’s not seriously injured. It’s just a chaotic scene out there, » Langworthy said.

Video of the event at Perinton posted to Twitter showed the man appearing to grab Zeldin’s arm and the two fell to the ground as others tried to intervene.

« Thanks to the quick action of several brave bystanders, the perpetrator was brought under control, » Langworthy said in a statement.

The Zeldin campaign said the attacker was arrested and the congressman continued with his speech.

Zeldin, an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who has represented Eastern Long Island in Congress since 2015, is a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and was among the congressional Republicans who voted against certification. results of the 2020 elections.

He challenges incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in November.