Malliotakis sworn in as Brooklyn-S.I. congressperson

January 6, 2021 Jaime DeJesus, Brooklynreporter.com

Nicole Malliotakis is sworn in by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Photo courtesy of U.S. Rep. Malliotakis

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Republican Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in as the representative for New York’s 11th Congressional District on Jan. 3.

As such, she is now the only Republican member of New York City’s congressional delegation.

Both her mother and father were in attendance during the ceremony in Washington D.C., as was her dog.

“An American dream turned into reality today when I took the oath of office to serve as the U.S. representative for New York’s 11th Congressional District,” Malliotakis said. “My parents came to this country as poor immigrants in search of opportunity and freedom. Today they witnessed their daughter being sworn in to represent the community we love in Congress. That is the American dream we must work to preserve for future generations.”

Since 2011, Malliotakis served as the assemblymember for the 60th District, which includes parts of southwest Brooklyn and Staten Island.

In November, she defeated two-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Max Rose, a U.S. Army veteran of Afghanistan who grew up in Park Slope, after a heated race that included negative ads from both sides and a contentious debate. Rose received some negative feedback after he attended a Black Lives Matter where the slogan “defund the police” was heard.

U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis with her parents George and Vera and her dog Peanut. Photo courtesy of U.S. Rep. Malliotakis

Since the election, Malliotakis has been critical of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and “The Squad,” a group of young progressive Democratic congressmembers.

“For the last two years, the influence AOC and her socialist ‘Squad’ have had on our government has grown unchecked,” she wrote in an email to supporters last month. “They’re advancing their dangerous agenda by defunding the police, fighting to pack the Supreme Court and impose the radical Green New Deal. They want to tear at the fabric of America, and let’s not forget they want to do it on your dime with taxpayer funded elections.

“I will work to advance policies that will keep our streets safe, protect our liberty and promote our free market economy. Thank you to the people of Southern Brooklyn and Staten Island who elected me to represent our community.”

Malliotakis, who grew up in Staten Island, is the daughter of immigrants; her father is from Greece and her mother is from Cuba. She first was elected to office in 2010 when she defeated two-time Democratic Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer. She has made seniors’ rights one of her major issues.

In 2017 she ran against Mayor Bill de Blasio as a Republican and lost to him 66 to 28 percent, although she won her home borough of Staten island.

Malliotakis said she was “honored” by President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the recent Congressional race. However, she also said, “Am I going to agree with him all the time? Absolutely not. I am my own person.”

Her district, a GOP stronghold, has elected Republican U.S. representatives before, such as Dan Donovan and Michael Grimm.

Additional material by Raanan Geberer, Brooklyn Eagle