Staten Island GOP Erupts in MAGA vs. Establishment Clash

Incumbent Assemblyman Michael Reilly faces primary challenge from John Tabacco, sparking bitter feud over the future of the Republican Party on Staten Island

Apr. 20, 2026 at 9:35am

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A vibrant, fragmented painting depicting the chaotic energy of a Staten Island political rally, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of red, blue, and yellow conveying a sense of movement and tension.The heated clash between MAGA insurgents and the Staten Island GOP establishment spills out into the open, exposing deep fractures within the local Republican Party.Staten Island Today

A heated Republican primary battle is unfolding in New York's 62nd Assembly District on Staten Island, pitting incumbent Assemblyman Michael Reilly against a challenge from John Tabacco, a local media personality and political insider. The race has quickly escalated into a proxy war between the establishment GOP on Staten Island and the MAGA wing of the party, with accusations of 'RINO' (Republican In Name Only) politics, backroom deals, and an attempt to purge young conservative challengers.

Why it matters

This race is seen as a microcosm of the broader power struggle happening within the Republican Party, with national figures like J.D. Vance and Donald Trump Jr. signaling that a post-Trump GOP will prioritize purging 'RINOs' in favor of more hardline conservative candidates. The outcome could determine the direction of the Staten Island GOP and serve as a bellwether for similar intraparty battles playing out across the country.

The details

Tabacco, who hosts a local cable news show and has a background in financial technology, has accused the Staten Island Republican establishment of protecting Reilly, an Army Reserve veteran and retired NYPD lieutenant, and trying to knock his son off the primary ballot through petition challenges. Reilly's camp, meanwhile, has dismissed Tabacco's accusations as an 'amateur hour' stunt, arguing that his campaign filed an insufficient number of signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.

  • Tabacco's son John A. Tabacco filed 657 signatures to get on the June Republican primary ballot.
  • Reilly's wife Mary and retired NYPD officer Erik B. Pistek filed objections to Tabacco's petitions.
  • The petition certification deadline is April 29-30, 2026.

The players

Michael Reilly

Incumbent Assemblyman representing the 62nd District, a retired NYPD lieutenant and Army Reserve veteran.

John Tabacco

Local media personality and political insider challenging Reilly in the Republican primary, positioning himself as a MAGA-aligned insurgent.

Vito Fossella

Former U.S. Congressman and current Staten Island Borough President, seen as a potential power broker in the local GOP.

Michael Tannousis

Chairman of the Staten Island Republican Party, accused by Tabacco of poor leadership and protecting the establishment.

Andrew Lanza

Republican New York State Senator representing parts of Staten Island.

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What they’re saying

“For months now, I have actively and openly called out SI GOP Chairman Mike Tannousis' incredibly poor leadership. The once vaunted SI GOP is now reduced to a barroom punchline. The party leadership is a joke.”

— John Tabacco, Challenger

“When you need 500 good signatures, a 657-signature filing is 'amateur hour.' Any competent New York operative knows the rule of survival is file double, or better yet triple, the legal minimum if you want to live through objections.”

— Unnamed veteran New York political consultant

“That's politics in New York. It's not some grand conspiracy—it's just how the system works, whether you like it or not. And he's not one to talk. A few years ago, Tabacco wasn't even a registered Republican.”

— Unnamed veteran New York political consultant

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow John A. Tabacco's petitions to stand, determining if he will appear on the June Republican primary ballot against incumbent Assemblyman Michael Reilly.

The takeaway

This bitter feud between the MAGA wing and the establishment GOP on Staten Island is a microcosm of the broader power struggle happening within the Republican Party nationwide. The outcome of this race could have significant implications for the direction of the local party and serve as a preview of similar intraparty battles to come.