Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rep. Lee Zeldin face off in 1st and only debate in New York governor's race
get the free app
NEW YORK -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul went head-to-head Tuesday night with Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin in their first and only debate before Election Day.
CBS2 political reporter Marcia Kramer says if you ask her, the tale of the debate on Spectrum News NY1 was summed in one single round when each candidate got to ask the other a question. The gloves were off, each going for what they thought was the other's Achilles' heel.
Hochul said hers was a simple yes or no answer.
"Is Donald Trump a great president?" Hochul asked.
"I worked closely with him on a number of important policies," Zeldin said.
"Yes or no, yes or no," Hochul said.
"And I believe that from our work to combat MS-13 on Long Island, our work to secure a $2 billion electron ion collider for Brookhaven National Lab," Zeldin said.
The Long Island congressmen then embarked on a long list of what he called Trump accomplishments, from moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem to ending the Iran nuclear accords.
"I'll take that as a resounding yes, and the voters of New York do not agree with you," Hochul said.
Tri-State voter guide: Nov. 8 General Election details and deadlines
Zeldin's question to Hochul was also a pointed gotcha, referring to campaign donations from companies doing business with the state, including one who supplied COVID test kits.
"What specific measures are you pledging to deal with the pay-to-play corruption that is plaguing you and your administration?" Zeldin asked.
"I don't accept the premise. There is no pay-to-play corruption," hochul said. "There has never been a quid pro quo, a policy change or decision made because of a contribution ... If you're going to talk about unseemly circumstances, how does one person get away with giving you $10.5 million in your election?"
For the most part, the one and only debate between Hochul and Zeldin revolved around the themes they have sounded on the campaign trail: Zeldin's, the focus on public safety, bail reform, firing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and ending congestion pricing, and Hochul pointing out that Zeldin does not support abortion rights and is, in her words, an "election denier."
"There is no crime-fighting plan if it doesn't include guns, illegal guns, and you refuse to talk about how we can do so much more. You didn't even show up for votes in Washington when a bipartisan group of enlightened legislators voted for an assault weapon ban," Hochul said.
"It's amazing that we're going to be able to go through the entire crime conversation of this debate and we're still waiting for Kathy Hochul to talk about actually locking up criminals," Zeldin said. "Kathy Hochul believes that the only crimes that are being committed are these crimes with guns, and you got people who are afraid of being pushed in front of oncoming subway cars. They're being stabbed, beaten to death on the street with hammers ... We need to be talking about all of these other crimes, but instead, Kathy Hochul is too busy patting herself on the back, job well done."
Believe it or not, the two actually agreed on one thing: both think the cap on charter schools should be lifted.
Early voting starts Saturday. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Hochul, Zeldin clash over how to tackle crime, among other topics
The candidates for New York governor faced off in their first and only debate of the campaign Tuesday night, just two weeks before Election Day.
During the hour-long debate hosted by Spectrum News NY1, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Lee Zeldin clashed over everything, from how to steer the state's economy to reproductive rights and, of course, how to tackle crime.
"There is no crime-fighting plan if it doesn't include guns, illegal guns, and you refuse to talk about how we can do so much more. You didn't even show up for votes in Washington when a bipartisan group of enlightened legislators voted for an assault weapon ban," Hochul said.
"Kathy Hochul believes that the only crimes that are being committed are these crimes with guns, and you got people who are afraid of being pushed in front of oncoming subway cars. They're being stabbed, beaten to death on the street with hammers," Zeldin said. "We need to be talking about all of these other crimes, but instead, Kathy Hochul is too busy patting herself on the back, job well done."
Early voting across the state starts Saturday. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Hochul, Zeldin trade barbs just hours before debate
The countdown clock is ticking in the New York governor's race.
On Tuesday night, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Lee Zeldin will meet face to face in their one and only debate -- a confrontation that could very well determine the outcome of the election and the political direction of New York.
Boxing fans will remember that the "Thrilla in Manila" determined the heavyweight champion of the world, and while neither Hochul nor Zeldin will actually be wearing boxing gloves, each is hoping to land enough jabs and cross hooks to be crowned the heavyweight champion of Albany, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.
Hochul threw the first punch Tuesday morning.
"Fired up," she said.
As if Hochul didn't have a care in the world and didn't have Rep. Zeldin breathing down her neck, the governor took an early morning stroll through Chelsea Market.
But has she been practicing for the debate with her pugnacious opponent?
"Debate tonight, yeah, I guess I gotta do that," Hochul said.
But for all her studied nonchalance, Hochul made sure to get in the first jab, raising the issue of emails Zeldin sent to then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, offering advice on how to challenge the 2020 election. She says he would try to deny this election if she wins.
"If he's willing to do it for a presidential election, New Yorkers need to be aware of that. I'll win, but I don't have any doubts that they'll try to question the results," Hochul said.
Zeldin, who took time out from practicing for the debate to talk to CBS2, punched back.
"I mean, give me a break. She's actually citing something from the beginning of November before that race was even called. Listen, Kathy Hochul doesn't want to talk about crime on our streets. She doesn't want to talk about what's happening in our subways, and real solutions, bold solutions, to actually tackle this," Zeldin said.
Crime and the troubling and scary incidents both above ground and below ground in the subways are sure to be key points of contention in the debate.
Zeldin has been insisting she is weak on crime, and only started taking steps after the race grew tighter. Hochul says she has been taking steps to keep people safe since she first took office.
"January, we announced a major crime initiative. February, we did. We changed the bail laws in the budget in March. We did a lot when there was the massacre in Buffalo. So, it is not a fair assessment to say we're out here now because I've been doing this for the entire year," Hochul said.
Bail reform is another big issue. Hochul said this week she will review the data when the Legislature comes back in January. Zeldin said he'll tackle the Legislature head on as part of his crime plan.
"I'm going to force them to come to the table. I'm going to declare a crime emergency here in the state. I'm going to suspend New York's cashless bail law and a bunch of other pro-criminal laws. We have to waste no time to take back our streets. Law-abiding New Yorkers are demanding the full level of attention and focus, resolve and solutions," Zeldin said.
To quote a song by Louis Armstrong, "There's going to a hot time in the old town tonight."
Hochul shakes hands at Chelsea Market
Gov. Kathy Hochul shook hands with voters and business owners Tuesday morning at Chelsea Market.
The Democrat made one last public appearance ahead of tonight's first, and so far, only public debate against Republican challenger Congressman Lee Zeldin.
"We have an election two weeks from today, and the voters love to see us, and we love to see them, so here we are," Hochul said.
A lot will be weighing on tonight's debate, with it being the only confirmed faceoff between the two before Election Day.
Hochul has a slight edge on Zeldin 50-46% in the New York governor's race, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters.
The same poll shows Hochul leading in New York City 59-37%, with the race tight in the suburbs -- Zeldin receiving 50% and Hochul 49%. Zeldin leads up state 52-44%.
Crime is top of mind for many New York voters, an issue Zeldin has criticized Hochul on.
"January, we announced a major crime initiative. February, we changed the bail laws, and the budget in March. I did a lot on the massacre in Buffalo," said Hochul. "So it's not a fair assessment to say that we're out here now, because I've been doing this for the entire year."
Recently, the congressman spoke out against the city's new subway crime plan, saying instead of putting more cops on trains through what he called "force overtime," she should help the city hire more cops. He also derided her plan to open new hospital beds for people who experience psychiatric problems.
"You want to take a guess how many beds?" he said. "Fifty beds! Not 500, not 5,000 beds. So once again, it's a day late and a dollar short."
Congressman Jerry Nadler, who joined Hochul on her walkthrough Tuesday, hit back against Zeldin's claims.
"It takes time to hire and train officers. So by giving overtime and using officers right away, that's more effective in dealing with crime right away," he said. "I'm sure they'll hire more officers, but it takes time."
Tonight's debate comes just days before New Yorkers start making their pick for governor, as Early Voting starts this Saturday.
How to watch
The hour-long debate gets underway at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Spectrum News NY1. You can also listen on WNYC radio.
Our Political Reporter Marcia Kramer will have a preview of what to expect on CBS2 News at 5 and 6, followed by full analysis later tonight.
Candidates exchange words on crime
Two weeks ahead of Election Day, Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin will face off in their first and, so far, only one hour gubernatorial debate Tuesday night.
Hochul has a slight edge on Zeldin 50-46% in the New York governor's race, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters.
The same poll shows Hochul leading in New York City 59-37%, with the race tight in the suburbs -- Zeldin receiving 50% and Hochul 49%. Zeldin leads up state 52-44%.
Meanwhile, while continuing her campaign as a longtime crime fighter, Hochul announced that under changes she enacted to the Red Flag Laws, weapons have been kept out of the hands of nearly 2,000 people who have shown they could be a danger to themselves or others.
"It's been my priority, it's not a new development, it's something we focused on with great intensity," she said.
It came as she has been under near constant assault on bail laws and crime from Zeldin, and as there have been almost daily headline-grabbing crimes above and below ground.
"Time and again, one new pro-criminal law after the next. Where was Kathy Hochul?" said Zeldin.
Zeldin slammed Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams' new subway crime plan, saying instead of putting more cops on trains through what he called "force overtime," she should help the city hire more cops. He also derided her plan to open new hospital beds for people who experience psychiatric problems.
"You want to take a guess how many beds?" he said. "Fifty beds! Not 500, not 5,000 beds. So once again, it's a day late and a dollar short."
When asked about Zeldin's claims, Hochul's campaign spokesperson hit back, saying the congressman doesn't have any actual plans to keep people safe.
What to know for Election Day
CLICK HERE for our Voter Guide -- from polling times and locations, to sample ballots and more.
Watch "The Point with Marcia Kramer"
CLICK HERE for our latest political coverage leading up to Election Day, and don't miss "The Point with Marcia Kramer" on Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m.
