Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) went after Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) during Tuesday night’s New York gubernatorial debate when the incumbent refused to name a single restriction on abortion she supports, and seemed to promote abortion after a woman’s sixth month of pregnancy.
“Are there any restrictions around abortions you would approve of?” a debate moderator asked the Democrat point-blank.
“What we have in New York state is simply a codification of Roe v. Wade, so what has been out there since … before the Supreme Court undid 50 years of progress for women,” Hochul responded. “… My granddaughter does not have the same right that I had to make a determination — in concert with myself, or my doctor if it’s after the sixth month [of pregnancy]. So, we have the same restrictions.”
“You asked a specific question, whether or not my opponent supports any restriction on abortion,” Zeldin said, gesturing toward one of the moderators. “Of course, she doesn’t answer it — that’s not a coincidence and she didn’t forget.”
In New York state, abortion is permitted in some cases up until the moment of birth. The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade found that there is not a Constitutional right to abortion, effectively kicking back the issue to the states. As noted by Zeldin, abortion was not rolled back in the deep-blue state at all from the decision.
WATCH:
Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked which restrictions, if any, she supports on abortion.
Here’s what she had to say: pic.twitter.com/53mwOIwx06
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 25, 2022
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Early on in the debate, Zeldin went after Hochul on the issue of crime, which has spiked in the state and specifically in New York City.
“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,” Zeldin said, knocking Hochul for focusing on more laws cracking down on guns rights, despite the state already being highly restrictive.
“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, there should be a special session” to “overhaul cashless bail and these other pro-criminal laws with zero tolerance,” Zeldin added.
A poll released last week showed the underdog Republican 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: ‘Absolutely Crushing Kathy’: A Fiery Zeldin Comes Out Swinging Over Crime In Debate Against Hochul
