Ex-Suffolk Exec Halpin to Take on ‘Sleepy Drew’—Garbarino Slammed for Snoozing Through Key Vote

 Ex-Suffolk Exec Halpin to Take on ‘Sleepy Drew’—Garbarino Slammed for Snoozing Through Key Vote

By Samantha Vogel-Hespos | Editor, Long Island Daily News

Sayville, NY — Former Suffolk County legislator and county executive aide Tom Halpin has officially entered the race to challenge U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville), accusing the congressman of “sleeping through his responsibilities” after reportedly dozing off during a critical vote on the bipartisan Offshore Business and Broadband Bill (OBBB).

The measure, which aims to expand high-speed internet and incentivize coastal small business development, passed narrowly in the House last week—without any input from Garbarino, who was spotted with eyes closed during the roll call, according to multiple floor reporters.

Halpin wasted no time seizing on the moment. “Long Island needs a representative who’s awake and working—not someone who clocks out during votes that affect our economy,” he said during his campaign launch outside Islip Town Hall. “Drew Garbarino has become the Rip Van Winkle of Congress—silent, sleepy, and out of touch.”

The nickname “Sleepy Drew” quickly gained traction on local social media, with constituents questioning the congressman’s recent attendance and voting record. Critics argue Garbarino has grown increasingly complacent since securing reelection in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes much of southern Suffolk County.

Garbarino’s office declined to comment directly on the OBBB incident but released a brief statement defending his record: “Congressman Garbarino has supported over $1 billion in infrastructure and broadband investments for New York. One moment on the floor doesn’t erase a track record of results.”

Still, the moment has become a rallying cry for Halpin and Long Island Democrats eager to flip the district in what’s expected to be a high-turnout 2024 cycle. The former county executive staffer is running on a platform of economic revitalization, climate resilience, and restoring “common-sense accountability in Washington.”

Whether the “Sleepy Drew” label sticks remains to be seen—but in a competitive year where optics matter, one missed vote might be one too many.

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