Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) came out swinging against Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) during Tuesday night’s New York gubernatorial debate, hitting the incumbent on the issue of rising crime in the deep-blue state.
When the duo were asking about crime in the state, Hochul promoted laws cracking down on gun laws and failed progressive policies.
A Fiery Zeldin, in turn, ripped the Democrat, “Kathy Hochul believes that the only crimes being committed are crimes with guns; you have people who are afraid to be pushed in front of oncoming subway cars, they’re being stabbed, beaten to death on the street with hammers.”
“Talk to the Asian American community and how it’s impacted them with the loss of lives, Jewish people targeted with raw, violent anti-Semitism on our streets — it just happened yet again,” the Republican continued. “We need to be talking about all of these other crimes, but instead, Kathy Hochul is busy patting herself on the back, job well done. No, actually.”
“Right now,” Zeldin said, “there should be a special session” to “overhaul cashless bail and these other pro-criminal laws with zero tolerance.”
WATCH:
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to address the spike in violent crime? More gun control.
Congressman Lee Zeldin has other ideas. pic.twitter.com/QlJ0T4Uz2F
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 25, 2022
The support for Zeldin quickly sparked online, particularly with the responses on crime.
“Zeldin is telling a story about the personal impact of crime and lax enforcement by DAs,” Noah Rothman reacted. “It is very impressive. Hochul responds by brining up Jan. 6 and Zeldin’s votes on affirming the results of the 2020 election. He’s murdering her on this issue.”
Zeldin is telling a story about the personal impact of crime and lax enforcement by DAs. It is very impressive. Hochul responds by brining up Jan. 6 and Zeldin’s votes on affirming the results of the 2020 election. He’s murdering her on this issue.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 25, 2022
“All my opponent can come up with is talking about the last election?” he quoted Hochul. “Hochul finally responds with some concrete stipulations about how she would respond to crime in a full term. She is not being pinned down on crime in ways her campaign didn’t anticipate so far.”
Hochul finally responds with some concrete stipulations about how she would respond to crime in a full term. She is not being pinned down on crime in ways her campaign didn’t anticipate so far.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 25, 2022
“I guess they’ll let him out on low bail then amirite? Heyooo,” CNN’s Mary Katharine Ham quipped, mocking progressive policies.
I guess they’ll let him out on low bail then amirite? Heyooo
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) October 25, 2022
“Kathy Hochul said she is the first governor to ever work with a New York mayor to increase public safety. Totally insane,” political consultant Ryan James Girdusky responded.
Kathy Hochul said she is the first governor to ever work with a New York mayor to increase public safety. Totally insane #NYGovDebate
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) October 25, 2022
“Lee Zeldin is absolutely crushing Kathy Hochul in the NY Governors race debate,” commentator Ashely St. Clair wrote.
Lee Zeldin is absolutely crushing Kathy Hochul in the NY Governors race debate #nydebate
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) October 25, 2022
A poll released last week showed Zeldin in the lead over Hochul in the deep-blue state, The Daily Wire reported.
The poll of 1,056 likely voters, conducted by Co/efficient on October 18-19, shows Zeldin with a very slight lead over incumbent Hochul, 45.6%-45.3%; 9.1% of voters were undecided. The poll is within the margin of error, but it is the first poll from a nationwide firm showing Zeldin in the lead in deep-blue New York. The poll comes as multiple polls have shown that the race is close.
John Rigolizzo has contributed to this post.
Related: New Poll Shows Zeldin With A Small Lead Over Kathy Hochul In Deep-Blue New York
