NY-03: Robert Zimmerman (D)
Robert Zimmerman, like many other closeted gay young men, struggled to find his voice. Coming of age in the suburbs was a lonely and isolating place. Like many others, he joined arms to protest oppressive wars, march for civil rights, demand social and environmental justice, and advocate for causes that mattered to the community.
After graduating from Brandeis University, cum laude, and while earning a master’s degree from Fordham University, he headed to Capitol Hill to work as a senior aide for Rep. Lester Wolff and later Rep. James Scheuer, representing communities across Long Island and Queens. Later on, Robert continued involvement in the Congressional district by advising close friend and longtime Rep. Gary Ackerman.
He has been a leading voice in advocating for Planned Parenthood, LGBTQ+ rights, Medicare for All, gun violence prevention, restoring the SALT deduction, a truly safe and secure Israel and a two state solution in the Middle East, comprehensive immigration reform, defending voting rights, and taking on those that deny the climate crisis.
He was nominated by President Clinton to serve on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Presidential Commission on the Arts and by President Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities. He sits on the Boards of the Center for an Urban Future, Reach Out America and The White Lotus Foundation. In addition, he served for 20 years on the Board of the American Museum of Natural History as a government representative.
He has also been honored by the LGBTQ Network of LI and Queens and the Long Island Progressive Coalition, in addition to serving as President of Great Neck B’nai B’rith and the American Jewish Congress Long Island Division.
The biographical information above was sourced from the candidate’s campaign website, see links above for more information.
