Dave Mejias - 2006 Congressional Election

2006 Congressional Election

In the 2006 Congressional election, Mejias was the Democratic nominee to represent the Third Congressional District of New York. That seat is currently held by Republican Peter King (R-Seaford), chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security. Despite Newsday's backing, King defeated Mejias in the election 56-44 percent. Despite King's 12 point victory, Mejias gave King the toughest challenge since King's 1st election in 1992. King, who in previous elections didn't spend all that much, spent more than $2 million on the campaign, outspending Mejias by more than a 2-1 margin.

Mejias's campaign was centralized mostly on criticized King for his close link to President George W. Bush. For example, King was quoted in stating "I thank God every night that he is our president. You should do the same."

Mejias has also criticized King, who was the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, over the Department of Homeland Security's $83 million reduction in funding for New York City.

In September 2006, King sent a letter to his constituents in which he attempted to link Mejias to men King called "radical" Muslim leaders on Long Island. The letter backfired when federal records showed that King himself accepted thousands of dollars more than Mejias in campaign contributions from the same donors.