Patrick Halpin will release first campaign ad in congressional bid against Rep. Andrew Garbarino

Former Suffolk County Executive Patrick Halpin is using the 13th anniversary of "Superstorm Sandy" Wednesday to launch his first digital congressional campaign ad in his bid to unseat GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino — next year.

The 80-second ad features scenes of Long Island storm devastation and includes Democrat Halpin on location at Captree State Park, where he notes, "All of this was underwater, all of the dunes, the beaches were washed away."

Halpin’s message is that now, 13 years later, Long Island is even more vulnerable to the next storm — in part because Garbarino (R-Bayport) sits as chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, which has oversight responsibility for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"He's chairman of Homeland Security and has direct responsibility for FEMA. He supported changes that gutted FEMA," Halpin states, speaking of Trump administration actions.

A Halpin campaign spokesman said the ad buy cost $1,500. It was set to go up on Wednesday on Halpin’s social media channels and YouTube.

There was no immediate comment Tuesday night from the Garbarino camp.

Erin Convey, a non-partisan political handicapper with the Cook Political Report, said the ad comes "definitely early" in the 2026 congressional election cycle. "But not unprecedented — it may be a way to test messaging," she said. 
The Halpin campaign spokesman pointed to Superstorm Sandy anniversary as being viewed as good timing for the point the ad is trying to make.

Halpin — who is not the only Democrat running for Garbarino’s seat — seeks to underscore a connection between Garbarino and decisions under President Donald Trump to change the way emergency management has been operating.
That includes delaying disaster declarations and aid payments to communities, and turning more to state governments to bolster their storm preparations.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has even talked about getting rid of the agency.

The ad does not mention that Garbarino only recently became chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in July, though he had been serving on the committee as a senior member beforehand, and is a Trump supporter.

The ad also flicks at Garbarino’s infamously missing a vote earlier this year on a bill full of Trump priorities, after an all-night House session. "For Garbarino, nothing but snoring on the job," Halpin states.

The ad will air a day after a report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office, which in part noted Trump administration proposals that have included a reduction in financial assistance from FEMA.  That could quadruple the amount of damage from future storms and disasters needed to qualify for FEMA funding.

It also noted that FEMA is attempting to claw back previously awarded storm-related grants for New York and other states.
Halpin concludes, "In Congress, I will work day and night to protect us from the next storm, to protect our pocketbooks, our communities and our way of life."