Former Congressman and 2022 New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin has thrown his support behind Yiatin Chu in her race for the New York State Senate, District 11. Zeldin, who nearly defeated Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2022 New York gubernatorial race, remains a powerful figure in New York politics, especially among Republican and conservative-leaning voters. His endorsement of Chu signals her viability as a serious contender in the race.
Chu, a first-time candidate and well-known education advocate, is mounting a serious challenge to long-time incumbent Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. Zeldin’s endorsement is seen as a significant boost to Chu’s campaign, which focuses on merit-based education, public safety, and restoring the quality of life for residents in Queens.
“Yiatin Chu has the leadership qualities, principles, and work ethic needed to be a great State Senator. She has spent so much time and energy building grassroots advocacy on merit-based education, public safety, and curtailing the progressive policies that have brought thousands of New Yorkers to their breaking points,” Zeldin said in his endorsement. “We need a compassionate and pragmatic voice like hers in Albany. Yiatin Chu has my full support, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to help make her your next State Senator.”
Chu, an outspoken advocate for public education and co-founder of PLACE NYC, has been a leading voice against changes to New York City’s education policies, particularly the push to eliminate merit-based admissions to the city’s specialized high schools. Chu is also a founder of the Asian Wave Alliance, a group that mobilizes Asian-American voters. Her platform centers on supporting merit-based education, upholding public safety, and opposing policies like bail reform, which she argues have negatively impacted New York’s communities.
A Strong Challenger to Stavisky
Chu’s opponent, Senator Stavisky, has held her seat for over 25 years and serves as the chair of the Senate’s Education Committee. Despite Stavisky’s deep roots in the district, which includes communities like Whitestone, Bayside, and Jamaica, Chu is hoping to capitalize on shifting political sentiments, especially among Asian-American voters. Recent redistricting has made Senate District 11 more competitive, carving out parts of Stavisky’s former base and adding new areas that could favor Chu.
Chu emphasized the importance of Zeldin’s endorsement in her fight to bring change to Albany. “I am thrilled to receive this warm endorsement from Lee Zeldin,” Chu said. “Lee knows that our state is going in the wrong direction, and is working hard to help common sense candidates like me win seats to restore public safety, address the migrant crisis, and uphold the quality of life for residents in eastern Queens.”
About Yiatin Chu
Yiatin Chu immigrated to Queens at the age of eight and is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. She earned her BA from SUNY-Binghamton and received an MBA from Boston University on a full-merit scholarship. Chu has had a successful career in healthcare marketing, working at startups and leading product marketing at WebMD. Since 2019, she has been a prominent figure in local political advocacy, working to protect merit-based education and address quality-of-life concerns. In 2023, she was named one of “The Most Powerful People You Never Heard Of” by New York Magazine for her grassroots accomplishments.
With Zeldin’s endorsement, Chu is positioning herself as a strong contender to bring new leadership to Senate District 11, challenging policies she believes are detrimental to public safety and education.
