Governor debate: Kathy Hochul, Lee Zeldin clash over crime, guns, COVID mandates
Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican Lee Zeldin squared off in the lone campaign debate of the gubernatorial election Tuesday night, clashing over hot-button issues such as abortion, COVID-19 mandates and former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
In a hard-hitting, fast-paced forum hosted by Spectrum News NY1, the candidates traded barbs and one-liners on almost every topic — including assault weapons, congestion pricing, natural gas drilling and cryptocurrency — setting up a strong contrast for voters on Nov. 8.
Hochul criticized Zeldin, a congressman from Shirley, for opposing abortion rights, skipping a vote on an assault weapons ban and opposing a federal infrastructure bill.
Hochul saved her sharpest words for when discussing Zeldin’s support for Trump and natural gas drilling.
“I know you’re an election denier but you’re also a climate change denier,” Hochul said, referring to Zeldin’s vote against certifying the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Zeldin attacked Hochul on COVID-19 regulations, overtime pay for farmworkers, taxes and congestion pricing.
But he most often cited state bail laws, crime and residents’ fear of crime.
“You’re poorer and less safe because of Kathy Hochul,” Zeldin said in opening remarks.
“Nice to see you as well, Lee,” Hochul replied as the debate got started.
Hochul, 64, has been on the job for just over a year, after becoming New York’s first female governor when then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 and she ascended from lieutenant governor.
Now, she is trying to become the first female elected to New York’s chief executive office.
Zeldin, 42, is trying to become the first Republican to win a statewide election in New York since George Pataki won the governor's race in 2002. Zeldin is in his eighth year in Congress.
The debate saw the candidates go round-and-round on familiar themes.
Zeldin has been riding the issues of crime and inflation during his campaign, while at the same time trying to distance himself from issues that could hurt him in New York: Abortion rights and Trump.
He said New York, with a Democratic-led legislature, will never overturn state abortion rights.
Nor would he seek to, Zeldin said.
“I won’t change that,” he said.
“People don’t trust that,” Hochul shot back, noting that, beyond abortion policy, the governor can control grants to Planned Parenthood and health clinics.
“Women should know this is on the ballot,” Hochul said.
Zeldin defended his 2021 election vote, contending irregularities in some states cast doubt on the outcomes there.
Courts have rejected numerous lawsuits that made such claims.
Asked by Hochul if Trump was a great president, Zeldin talked about specific pieces of legislation he said he worked with Trump on — prompting Hochul to say: “I’ll take that as a resounding yes.”
Zeldin accused Hochul of focusing on Trump whenever she faced a hard question.
Going on the offensive, Zeldin called for undoing a state ban on “hydrofracking” for natural gas and a law that allows farmworkers to get overtime pay after working 40 hours per week.
He called for killing a proposal to impose congestion pricing fees for vehicles driving into parts of Manhattan during certain periods of the day.
Zeldin also said he wouldn’t back “any mandate in any way, shape or form” in fighting COVID-19, whether concerning masks or vaccines.
Overall, Zeldin sought to draw a picture of a troubled state.
“New York is in crisis. We’ve experienced, on so many levels, attacks on our wallets, our safety, our freedom, your children’s education,” Zeldin said.
In an apparent appeal to New York City voters, Zeldin said Hochul “doesn’t have the city’s back when it comes to public safety.”
Responding on the crime issue, Hochul touted changes she made to the state bail reform law that allow judges to consider a defendant’s history in setting bail.
Hochul also backed a plan to increase the number of subway cops, and stricter laws on assault weapons.
Hochul sought to turn the crime discussion by focusing on Zeldin’s opposition to tougher gun laws.
“There is no crime-fighting plan if it doesn’t include guns and you refuse to do more,” Hochul said to Zeldin.
Hochul criticized Zeldin’s opposition in Congress to what she called job-creation bills, such as a recent infrastructure deal that passed the Democratic-controlled Congress with some GOP backing.
She also touted her recent landing of a $100 million computer chip manufacturer in Syracuse as part of her economic policies.
The latest independent polls show the race tightening since Labor Day, with Hochul holding anywhere from a 4 to 11 percentage point lead.
Voter enrollment gives Hochul a decided edge: 50% of the statewide electorate is Democratic, 22% Republican, 23% not aligned with a party and 5% enrolled in minor parties.
Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican Lee Zeldin squared off in the lone campaign debate of the gubernatorial election Tuesday night, clashing over hot-button issues such as abortion, COVID-19 mandates and former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
In a hard-hitting, fast-paced forum hosted by Spectrum News NY1, the candidates traded barbs and one-liners on almost every topic — including assault weapons, congestion pricing, natural gas drilling and cryptocurrency — setting up a strong contrast for voters on Nov. 8.
Hochul criticized Zeldin, a congressman from Shirley, for opposing abortion rights, skipping a vote on an assault weapons ban and opposing a federal infrastructure bill.
Hochul saved her sharpest words for when discussing Zeldin’s support for Trump and natural gas drilling.
“I know you’re an election denier but you’re also a climate change denier,” Hochul said, referring to Zeldin’s vote against certifying the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Zeldin attacked Hochul on COVID-19 regulations, overtime pay for farmworkers, taxes and congestion pricing.
But he most often cited state bail laws, crime and residents’ fear of crime.
“You’re poorer and less safe because of Kathy Hochul,” Zeldin said in opening remarks.
“Nice to see you as well, Lee,” Hochul replied as the debate got started.
Hochul, 64, has been on the job for just over a year, after becoming New York’s first female governor when then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 and she ascended from lieutenant governor.
Now, she is trying to become the first female elected to New York’s chief executive office.
Zeldin, 42, is trying to become the first Republican to win a statewide election in New York since George Pataki won the governor's race in 2002. Zeldin is in his eighth year in Congress.
The debate saw the candidates go round-and-round on familiar themes.
Zeldin has been riding the issues of crime and inflation during his campaign, while at the same time trying to distance himself from issues that could hurt him in New York: Abortion rights and Trump.
He said New York, with a Democratic-led legislature, will never overturn state abortion rights.
Nor would he seek to, Zeldin said.
“I won’t change that,” he said.
“People don’t trust that,” Hochul shot back, noting that, beyond abortion policy, the governor can control grants to Planned Parenthood and health clinics.
“Women should know this is on the ballot,” Hochul said.
Zeldin defended his 2021 election vote, contending irregularities in some states cast doubt on the outcomes there.
Courts have rejected numerous lawsuits that made such claims.
Asked by Hochul if Trump was a great president, Zeldin talked about specific pieces of legislation he said he worked with Trump on — prompting Hochul to say: “I’ll take that as a resounding yes.”
Zeldin accused Hochul of focusing on Trump whenever she faced a hard question.
Going on the offensive, Zeldin called for undoing a state ban on “hydrofracking” for natural gas and a law that allows farmworkers to get overtime pay after working 40 hours per week.
He called for killing a proposal to impose congestion pricing fees for vehicles driving into parts of Manhattan during certain periods of the day.
Zeldin also said he wouldn’t back “any mandate in any way, shape or form” in fighting COVID-19, whether concerning masks or vaccines.
Overall, Zeldin sought to draw a picture of a troubled state.
“New York is in crisis. We’ve experienced, on so many levels, attacks on our wallets, our safety, our freedom, your children’s education,” Zeldin said.
In an apparent appeal to New York City voters, Zeldin said Hochul “doesn’t have the city’s back when it comes to public safety.”
Responding on the crime issue, Hochul touted changes she made to the state bail reform law that allow judges to consider a defendant’s history in setting bail.
Hochul also backed a plan to increase the number of subway cops, and stricter laws on assault weapons.
Hochul sought to turn the crime discussion by focusing on Zeldin’s opposition to tougher gun laws.
“There is no crime-fighting plan if it doesn’t include guns and you refuse to do more,” Hochul said to Zeldin.
Hochul criticized Zeldin’s opposition in Congress to what she called job-creation bills, such as a recent infrastructure deal that passed the Democratic-controlled Congress with some GOP backing.
She also touted her recent landing of a $100 million computer chip manufacturer in Syracuse as part of her economic policies.
The latest independent polls show the race tightening since Labor Day, with Hochul holding anywhere from a 4 to 11 percentage point lead.
Voter enrollment gives Hochul a decided edge: 50% of the statewide electorate is Democratic, 22% Republican, 23% not aligned with a party and 5% enrolled in minor parties.
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