Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors, leaders of our community—
Good evening to all of you.
Tonight marks a moment 10 months in the making.
Ten months of sacrifice. Ten months of self-funding every mile, every meeting, every handshake, every sleepless night. Ten months of believing that the people of New York’s 14th District deserve a real choice… and a real chance.
And now—tonight—this is our first event.
Our first gathering.
Our first moment together as a community that has decided:
We are done waiting. We are done being ignored. And we are done being told that our district is lost.
My Story — And Why I’m Here
I stand before you as a proud Albanian- American.
As a husband to my beautiful wife Tereza
As a father, to my wonderful children Logan and Nora.
As an entrepreneur who built everything from nothing.
And now—as someone asking to serve the only country that ever gave me a real shot at life.
My life, like so many of yours, is not a straight line.
I’ve lost money.
I’ve lost friends.
I have even lost my home and was forced to leave my homeland.
In our falls we find strength, in our breaks we find growth, in our failures we find wisdom.
the truth is this: every setback only made me sharper, stronger, and hungrier.
As Albanian-Americans —we are built differently.
We come from a people who faced down empires…
The Ottomans…
The Communists…
The Yugoslav regime…
And the genocide in Kosova that many of us lived through within our own lifetimes.
Every time, we were outnumbered.
Every time, we were outgunned.
Every time, we were underestimated.
And every time—we prevailed.
We don’t need a social media influencer in congress — who has not accomplished a single thing in this district to make a better life for the people. I’ve built more, created more, and accomplished more for real New Yorkers than she ever has and ever will. After 6 years on the job, not one- let me repeat that, not one single piece of legislation she proposed has passed into law. This doesn’t call for a promotion to state senate or us presidency. It calls for a change. I am not afraid to challenge a social media star with a failed record who was a part time bartender on a few weekend shifts. Hard work? she wouldn’t last a day in my world.
So don’t let them tell you Republicans can’t win in New York City.
Don’t let them tell you District 14 is lost.
Don’t let them tell you faith, tradition, and common sense have no place here.
We have heard this story before—back home and here—and every time, the underdogs win.
Why I didn’t to Run as a Democrat
People told me,
“Diamant, if you want to win in NYC, switch parties.”
“Be an opportunist.”
“Blend in—don’t stand out.”
But I was not raised to bend.
I was raised to stand.
I didn’t compromise my faith.
I didn’t compromise my values.
I didn’t compromise who I am.
I am a Muslim man married to a Catholic women in a home filled with love, peace, respect, and harmony—proof that America still works when we choose unity over division.
I chose the Republican Party not because it was easy, or an open seat..I didn’t choose this for self gain. I was liked and popular in my private business life. No threats on my life then, no hate from people who did not know me. I’m fighting for the city that built me. I am fighting for NEW YORK CITY. Every blood sweat and tear was spilt in this city, and I will defend it with my life. I am a moderate guy who grew up democrat by default. The Democrat party has lost its ways. They are no longer the party of the working man.
It chose me and I chose this because it was right. In life you must choose to fight when it’s hard, not easy. You must Choose to fight evil.
It’s time to get back to the basics.
I chose this battle Because I believe in faith, family, freedom.
Because I believe in the American Dream. I am the American Dream. this district deserves representation grounded in real life—not ideology.
Because I believe working families deserve more than slogans. They deserve results. They deserve a true tested fighter.
What This Campaign Is About
We are fighting for:
working families have been left behind, we simply can’t afford to live in our beloved city.
our children are not safe on the streets
Our children need to walk freely, not fearfully.
our schools are among the worst in the country- we need to get back to;
Where discipline and excellence—not politics—come first.
Opportunities for small business
Everyday businessss are closing shop, leaving our city, Because New Yorkers don’t want a handout, they want a fair chance.
Respect for the immigrant community
For the dreamers who came here with nothing and gave America everything. They need a real chance to become part of this great country and not used as slaves.
This campaign is not about left or right.
It’s about right and wrong.
It’s about rebuilding a district that has been forgotten by its own representative.
It’s about showing the country that New York is not gone.
New York is not lost.
New York is ready for a comeback.
To Everyone in This Room
I know many of you left work early, rearranged your schedules, traveled from different boroughs, and states and chose to spend your night here.
Your presence tells me that something powerful is happening.
Something real.
Something that can only be built by a community—not consultants, not political machines, not outside money.
Because for 10 months, nobody controlled this campaign but me.
I didn’t owe anyone a favor.
I didn’t take a single dollar.
I walked into this launch tonight owing nothing to anyone—and ready to build a movement with all of you.
What Comes Next
From tonight forward, this is not “Diamant’s campaign.”
This is your campaign.
Your voice.
Your fight.
Your future.
District 14 deserves a representative who knows what it means to survive, to build, to sacrifice, and to rise.
And I promise you this:
I will work harder.
I will fight tougher.
I will show up earlier and stay later.
I will take no shortcuts.
I will outwork every opponent.
And I will never forget who I serve.
Closing Message
My friends—
our parents crossed battlefields and oceans for opportunity.
Tonight, we cross a threshold for change.
We begin the march toward November 2026 not as Republicans or Democrats…
But as New Yorkers who believe this city is worth fighting for.
And mark my words:
We will fight like hell.
We will be underestimated.
We will be doubted.
And—just like every chapter of our history—
we will prevail.
Because the underdog is awake.
Because the community is here.
And because the American Dream is still alive in District 14.
Thank you, God bless you, let’s make history together. God bless America 