Grimm easily wins re-election as trial looms

A federal indictment and a looming trial didn’t keep Republican Michael Grimm from easily winning re-election Tuesday to his Staten Island congressional seat.

Grimm romped over his Democratic opponent, ex-City Councilman Domenic Recchia, by 13 percentage points, 55-42 percent.

“I as your congressman have never been prouder. You stood by me against all the odds. You stood by me when I needed you most,” Grimm told cheering supporters at the Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn.

He made it clear he was running as much against prosecutors as he was against his Democratic challenger, who turned out to be an unprepared dud.

Dogged by criminal charges but boosted by ­incumbency, the former FBI agent remained popular among his constituents.

Indeed, even poll workers applauded when he arrived to vote at PS 69 in New Springville.

Grimm in April was hit with a 20-count indictment on tax-fraud charges relating to a Manhattan health-food restaurant he once co-owned.

But that didn’t faze many of his supporters, including the supposedly nonpartisan poll workers.

But Grimm aides had a hard time keeping it classy.

“All members of Team Grimm, meet me at the bar for f–king shots,” Grimm’s body man, Marc Alvarez, told the crowd at the Hilton over an open mike while a TV crew was broadcasting live.

To loyal Grimm supporters, his legal problems were not the defining issue in the race.

“We know what the Democrats are doing to this country,” said Stella Eliano, 48, who lives in Grimm’s neighborhood.

“Everyone is corrupt. Why am I going to penalize him? He didn’t raise our property tax by 18 percent. They are human beings. He’s not going to be convicted.”

Recchia supporters said they were sick of the corruption and the old guard in Congress.

Irv Elias, 70, wouldn’t say for whom he voted, but it was clear he had issues with Grimm­.

“It’s because people on the ­Island are ignorant to the facts,” Elias said. “People would vote for Sarah Palin if she was running here.”

In other congressional races, Republicans picked up three seats in districts outside New York City.

Incumbent Democrat Timothy Bishop lost to Republican Lee Zeldin on Long Island. Republican Elise Stefanik beat Democrat Aaron Woolf in the Adirondacks. Republican John Katko unseated Democrat Daniel Maffei in the district that includes Syracuse.



Additional reporting by Priscilla DeGregory

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