Former “The Biggest Loser” trainer Cara Castronuova is seeking to run for US Senate against Democrat incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, but influential Republicans are trying to disqualify her from the GOP primary ballot. A petition challenge was filed against Castronuova, led by Queens Republican Party chairman Anthony Nunziato and convicted felon John Haggerty. Haggerty has close ties to the state Republican Party leadership and was convicted of stealing $750,000 from a trust fund belonging to former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Castronuova believes the challenge is retaliatory, as she recently sued the state Republican Party and Board of Elections over ballot requirements.
Another businessman, Josh Eisen, is also facing a petition challenge in his bid to run in the GOP primary for Senate. Castronuova expressed disappointment that only two people, including Nunziato, objected to her petitions, suggesting the bid to disqualify her is driven by a select few. She has vowed to fight the challenge and believes that voters deserve a choice and fair ballot access. Former President Donald Trump endorsed another GOP candidate, Mike Sapraicone, who was tapped by delegates to be their standard bearer in the state party convention.
Castronuova and Eisen failed to garner the required 25% of the weighted delegates’ vote to qualify for ballot status for the Republican primary. The only option left for them to get on the ballot is to collect 15,000 signatures from registered Republicans, with specific requirements from each Congressional district. Despite claiming to have filed more than 15,000 valid signatures, their eligibility remains in question as the signatures are subjected to objections under New York’s strict election law.
Nunziata defended his decision to challenge Castronuova’s petition, stating that he wants to ensure the signatures are accurate and meet the required criteria for ballot access. He emphasized the importance of checks and balances in the electoral process. Haggerty, who delivered the challenge for Nunziata, did not respond to requests for comment. Nunziato criticized Castronuova for making an issue out of Haggerty’s involvement, calling it “ridiculous” and urging her to move on from the situation.
Castronuova is determined to fight the challenge to the very end, asserting that voters have a constitutional right to a choice in candidates and fair ballot access. She criticized the role of a convicted felon with ties to the Republican Party leadership in influencing election decisions and accused him of hiding behind party elites. Despite facing obstacles in the Republican primary, Castronuova remains committed to ensuring that voters have a say in the selection of their candidates and have access to a fair electoral process.
