What's next for Lee Zeldin? The Republican came within single digits of defeating Gov. Kathy Hochul in the fall -- and many credit his campaign coat tails for allowing the GOP to re-take control of the House.

News 12 spoke with the former congressman this week as part of a News 12 Power &  Politics special.

Zeldin didn't win the race for governor of New York, but he was highly competitive in a deep blue state, and so even in defeat he still raised his political profile, both at home, and across the country.
 
“There's no regrets. If we were to go forward and do this again, let's say in four years, it's a possibility. What's important is that you have lessons learned,” said Zeldin.  

Zeldin says he'll channel those lessons into helping other Republican candidates across the country -- with the creation of a new political action committee aimed at reaching out to minority voters.

“When a political consultant tells me that I should not go somewhere. My first thought is that is the most important place for me to go. Why? Because that probably means that there is a school of thought that has gone on for a really long time where Republicans haven't gone there. That means there's an untapped opportunity,” said Zeldin.

Zeldin also spoke to News 12 about Congressman George Santos -- a man who he campaigned alongside and who is now under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

“All the stuff that's come out, I was not aware of any of it,” said Zeldin.

Zeldin was asked if he should resign, his response was “Listen, if I was in his shoes, the answer is yes in a heartbeat. If I was in his shoes, I would never be doing what he is doing,” said Zeldin.