Exclusive | Republicans roast Democrats in trying to ban Chiefs, Native-American mascots in NY schools

Republicans are planning to attack their Democratic opponents over New York’s effort to force Massapequa to drop its Chiefs mascot as part of a ban on Native-American imagery in school logos.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.“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.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 f...