{"id":239388,"date":"2026-05-21T15:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/239388\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:47:12","slug":"queens-gop-spring-gala-celebrates-party-patriotism-public-safety-and-250-years-of-american-pride-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/239388\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens GOP Spring Gala celebrates party, patriotism, public safety and 250 years of American pride \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Republican leaders, candidates, activists and supporters gathered Wednesday evening at Russo\u2019s on the Bay<\/a> in Howard Beach<\/a> for the 2026 Queens County GOP Spring Gala, an event focused on party unity, public safety, affordability and the upcoming statewide elections.<\/p>\n

Hosted by the Queens County Republican Party<\/a>, the gala celebrated \u201c250 Years of Freedom\u201d ahead of America\u2019s upcoming semi-quincentennial anniversary, and drew a packed audience of Republican officials, candidates, community leaders and grassroots activists from across New York City and the state.<\/p>\n

The evening featured remarks from New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox, lieutenant governor candidate Todd Hood, prominent defense attorney Thomas Kenniff and Council Member Joann Ariola.
\n\"\"<\/a>(Left to right) Thomas Kenniff, Todd Hood and Ed Cox. Photo by Robert Pearl\n<\/p>\n

Queens GOP Chairman Anthony Nunziato opened the event by declaring that Republicans are poised to \u201ctake back New York\u201d in 2026. \u201cThis is the year Republicans take back New York,\u201d Nunziato said to applause. \u201cThis is the year that we fire Kathy Hochul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>(Left to right) Queens GOP Chairman Anthony Nunziato, New York State Lieutenant Governor Candidate Todd Hood and Defense Attorney Thomas Keniff. Photo by Robert Pearl<\/p>\n

Throughout the evening, speakers focused on concerns over crime, affordability, taxes, outmigration and what they described as growing radicalism in Albany and New York City politics.<\/p>\n

Cox called for the resurgence of Republican Party common-sense policies while criticizing Democratic leadership in Albany and arguing that New Yorkers are ready for change.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has it gotten us?\u201d Cox asked, referring to Democratic control of state government. \u201cThe nation\u2019s highest taxes, the highest cost of living, the most burdensome regulations. Our streets and subways are not safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cox praised Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, calling him a proven executive capable of restoring law, order and affordability to the state. \u201cHe governed with conviction and strength,\u201d Cox said. \u201cHe backed the blue and made Nassau County the safest county in the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have never seen a better ticket than we are presenting to the people of New York,\u201d Cox said.\n<\/p>\n

Blakeman later appeared by video, outlining his proposals, including reducing state income taxes, lowering utility costs, expanding domestic energy production and reversing policies affecting corrections officers and police recruitment.<\/p>\n

Cox also recognized statewide candidates, including attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy and comptroller candidate Joseph Hernandez.
\n\"\"<\/a>New York State Attorney General Candidate Saritha Komatireddy with New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox. Photo by Robert Pearl\n<\/p>\n

Hood, the Madison County sheriff seeking the lieutenant governor nomination, emphasized his law enforcement background and framed the election as a battle to restore \u201ccommon sense governance.\u201d In his speech, he focused on law enforcement and public safety.<\/p>\n

Alongside his wife Kelly, the sheriff described his 35-year law enforcement career and his family\u2019s deep ties to public service. \u201cWe\u2019re going to support law enforcement and public safety because you can\u2019t have affordability without safety,\u201d Hood said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>New York State Lieutenant Governor Candidate Todd Hood speaks at the Queens County GOP Gala. Photo by Robert Pearl<\/p>\n

Hood criticized progressive criminal justice policies and warned against what he called a \u201csocialist experiment\u201d unfolding in New York City. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna put families first, not criminals,\u201d Hood told attendees.<\/p>\n

Thomas Kenniff, who gained national attention as lead defense attorney for Daniel Penny, delivered a speech on what he described as the \u201cweaponization\u201d of the justice system.\n<\/p>\n

Attempting to compare prosecutions connected to January 6 defendants, former President Donald Trump and other criminal cases, Kenniff argued that prosecutors increasingly pursue politically motivated cases while failing to aggressively prosecute repeat violent offenders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Defense Attorney Thomas Keniff addresses attendees of the gala. Photo by Robert Pearl<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weaponization of the justice system is not limited to January 6,\u201d Kenniff said. \u201cIt is indeed all around us.\u201d Kenniff discussed the Penny trial, recounting the defense strategy employed in the high-profile subway death case involving Jordan Neely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to defend Daniel Penny not only in the courtroom, but in the court of public opinion,\u201d Kenniff said. Describing the moment the verdict was read, Kenniff told the audience: \u201cWe hear the sweetest three-letter word in any defense attorney\u2019s vocabulary \u2014 NOT\u2026 guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Council Member Ariola also addressed the crowd, saying Republicans remain committed to reversing New York\u2019s decline despite political challenges and that the state can be saved.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still here. We are still fighting,\u201d Ariola said. \u201cAnd we still believe that the greatest city and state in America are worth saving.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Ariola criticized Democratic criminal justice reforms, rising taxes and affordability issues, arguing many families are questioning whether they can continue living in New York.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers don\u2019t ask for special treatment,\u201d she said. \u201cWe ask for safe streets, good schools, affordable living, respect for law enforcement and a government that works for people, not against them.\u201d She also praised Blakeman as a leader focused on public safety and taxpayer relief.<\/p>\n

The gala also included recognition of numerous Republican candidates and party officials from Queens and across New York. Among those acknowledged were Assembly candidates Thomas P. Sullivan, Brandon Castro and Welson Chang, along with Pamela Michos for State Senate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox and State Senate Candidate Pamela Michos. Photo by Robert Pearl
\n\"\"<\/a>New York State Assembly Candidate Thomas P. Sullivan and New York State Lieutenant Governor Candidate Todd Hood. Photo by Robert Pearl<\/p>\n

Former Council Member Kristy Marmorato, New York Young Republican Club<\/a> (NYYRC) President Stefano Forte and other members were also in attendance.<\/p>\n

The event also featured the announcement of the new Queens County Women\u2019s Republican Club by Phyllis Inserillo, chief of staff to Ariola.\n<\/p>\n

The evening began with the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem and invocations from both a rabbi and a priest, who both emphasized faith, family, morality and national unity as foundational American values.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we approach the historic celebration of 250 years of liberty, faith and opportunity,\u201d the abbi sarid, \u201cwe thank you for the leaders, public servants and community advocates gathered here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gala concluded with calls for party unity and increased Republican organizing efforts ahead of the November elections.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cQueens Republicans are energized,\u201d Nunziato said in his closing remarks. \u201cQueens Republicans are united. And Queens Republicans are ready to help take back New York.\u201d
\n\"\"<\/a>Anthony Nunziato and Thomas P. Sullivan. Photo by Robert Pearl\n<\/p>\n

Candidates for Attorney General Saritha Komatireddy and NYS Comptroller Joseph Hernandez were also acknowledged by Nunziato.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Republican leaders, candidates, activists and supporters gathered Wednesday evening at Russo\u2019s on the Bay in Howard Beach for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":239389,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,93574,93575,124,123],"class_list":["post-239388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-county-gop-spring-gala","tag-queens-county-republican-party","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239388"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239388\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/239389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}