Republicans roast Democrats in trying to ban ‘Chiefs,' Native-American mascots in NY schools
The GOP sees the mascot controversy as another example of Democratic-run Albany pushing fringe issues, and wants them to pay a political price for it.
'We have a lot of chiefs in volunteer fire departments in New York,' said John McLaughlin, a pollster for New York Republicans and President President Trump — also known as the commander-in-chief.
5 New York Republicans are planning to bash state Democrats over the controversy surrounding Massapequa High School being pressured to change its Chiefs mascot.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
'Hochul and the Democrats should focus on improving reading and math and not indoctrinating our students,' he said.
McLaughlin noted that Hochul is already unpopular on Long Island — she has a 55% unfavorable rating in the New York suburbs compared to 36% favorable in a recent Siena College poll. She is up for reelection next year.
The comments come after US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Massapequa on Friday and threatened to bring a civil rights case against the Empire State for forcing the high school to ditch its mascot.
The event was coordinated by Nassau County Executive and Trump pal Bruce Blakeman, who is up for re-election this fall.
'Denigrating whole communities like Massapequa and Wantagh is not a good look for Governor Hochul, who seems hell bent on making as many enemies as she can on Long Island,' Blakeman, who also is also eying a run for governor next year, told The Post Sunday.
5 Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman holding up 'Chief Nation' shirts at a press conference at Massapequa High School on May 30, 2025.
Courtesy of Nassau County Executive
Blakeman's Democratic opponent for county executive, Seth Koslow said, 'School pride matters, but it's hard to believe this is the top concern of the federal government right now.'
The New York Board of Regents' and state Education ordered schools to ban Native American mascots back in 2023. The members of the education policy-making board are appointed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature.
The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee is using the controversy to tar Democratic incumbents up for re-election next year on Long Island and elsewhere, including Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen.
5 Blakeman accused Gov. Hochul of 'denigrating whole communities' in Long Island by forcing schools to abandon their mascots.
Stephen Yang
'It's another day that ends in 'y,' so obviously Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen's Democrat Party is more concerned with demonizing a high school mascot than lowering taxes and costs for Long Island families,' said NRCC spokeswoman Maurenn O'Toole.
'Democrats are completely missing the plot, and voters will hold Suozzi and Gillen accountable for their utterly foolish, destructive, and out of touch agenda next fall.'
But Suozzi told The Post Sunday, 'I support the Massapequa Chiefs.'
5 A Chiefs mural seen at Massapequa High School.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Suozzi said Republicans are engaging in cheap politics to change the subject.
'This is nonsense, and just another distraction from national Republicans. Congressman Suozzi supports the Massapequa Chiefs, but not the petty partisan politics that people can't stand,' said Suozzi senior campaign adviser Kim Devlin.
'National Republicans should spend their time reducing prices, negotiating a bipartisan fix on immigration, lowering their own proposed record-breaking deficits, and protecting people's healthcare—not cutting it. Congressman Suozzi has always stood with our communities, and no amount of desperate distortion will change that.'
State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs, a close ally of Hochul who also is the Nassau County Democratic leader, said Trump and the GOP are trying to deflect from their unpopular policies in DC by focusing on mascots.
'This is a Republican distraction. The Democrats have not made this an issue,' Jacobs insisted.
'The Republicans are trying to distract from all the damage they're doing in Washington. They want to talk about mascots instead of tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, SNAP benefits and education programs,' Jacobs said.
'This is what Republicans do every election — they try to scare and anger people.'
Hochul, through a rep, sought to distance herself from the mascot controversy.
5 A Massapequa Chiefs scoreboard at the high school's baseball field.
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File
'The decision being discussed was made by the independent State Education Department, which is not under our Administration's jurisdiction,' said Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper.
'While Secretary McMahon focuses on WWE-style distractions, Governor Hochul is focused on what matters: fully funding Long Island's public schools and making sure every kid gets a high-quality education.'
Last year, Trump and the GOP successfully slammed Democrats for supporting the unpopular policy of allowing transgender athletes to compete against biological females in sports.
Republicans said they are pleasantly surprised — even baffled — at state officials going after local school districts on Long Island, of all places.
Numerous Long Island towns have native American names — honoring tribal history — Massapequa, Wyandanch, Manhasset, Mineola, Quogue, Amagansett, Patchogue, Hauppauge, Patchogue, among others.
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