Republican congressional candidate Alison Esposito says she’s courting key Hasidic voters in New York’s battleground 18th District in the run up to election day.
Esposito touted her outreach effort while pushing back against a recent New York Times report suggesting leaders of the Satmar Jewish sects are planning to back her Democratic opponent, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY).
“We don’t believe that,” Esposito told The Post editorial board during an interview, in reference to the Times report.
“We have had meetings. I have been doorknocking. There was a recent meet and greet. There’s a meeting scheduled with some of the hierarchy in the different areas, but I don’t believe that,” the former NYPD Deputy Inspector said.
“If you look at what’s going on in the world, there is an attack on our wallets and they’re feeling it too, and they know it,” she continued.
The 18th Congressional District includes the village of Kiryas Joel, home to a quickly expanding and ever more influential group of Orthodox Jewish voters.
The Town of Palm Tree, which includes Kiryas Joel, significantly backed Ryan over his Republican opponent, Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, in 2022. Ryan carried 4,134 votes in Palm Tree compared with Schmitt’s 2,607 last cycle.
Ryan ultimately won by just 3,592 votes overall.
Esposito railed against Ryan, calling the former Ulster County Executive “mum” on antisemitism.
Ryan has the endorsement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
A spokesperson for Ryan declined to comment.