New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin on Saturday confirmed he was diagnosed with leukemia last November, adding that he is in remission, and that the diagnosis would not affect his campaign for governor.
"Through early detection, last November, I was diagnosed with early stage chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). I then began treatment with an immediately positive response and no side effects," Zeldin said in a statement released by his campaign. "Over the last 9 months, I have achieved complete remission, am expected to live a normal life, and my doctor says I currently have no evidence of this disease in my system. My health is phenomenal, and I continue to operate at 110%."
Zeldin in the statement said he would continue to campaign for the party’s nomination, hitting various stops across the state in the coming days. At the same time, Zeldin said he had not missed any duty related to the Army Reserve as a result of the diagnosis.
Zeldin’s campaign also released a statement from his hematologist, Jeffrey Vacirca, saying the candidate responded “extraordinarily well” to cancer treatments.
"Successfully treated early chronic myeloid leukemia is now a chronic disease, which carries a normal life expectancy," he said. "Congressman Zeldin is incredibly healthy, is expected to enjoy a normal life and has no evidence of disease."
Zeldin, a Long Island Republican, is one of five GOP candidates running for governor in 2022. He has picked up the lion’s share of endorsements from local Republican leaders at the county level.
New York Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy this summer declared Zeldin the party’s leading candidate following the results of a straw poll.
Zeldin’s campaign confirmed the diagnosis after he first revealed it during an Ontario County Republican fundraising event this week.