Trying to eat into the base of her rival, Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin, Gov. Kathy Hochul was on Long Island for another economic development announcement. Meanwhile, Zeldin once again called on Hochul to agree to more debates.
Hochul has been highlighting off-shore wind projects that are coming soon to Long Island.
Working with local leaders, Hochul announced a new training center for workers that could create 10,000 new jobs associated with those wind farms.
What You Need To Know
- Republican candidate for governor Lee Zeldin sent a letter to the Gov. KAthy Hochul campaign demanding more debates than the one she has agreed to
- Zeldin held no public events for the second day in a row with less than three weeks to go before Election Day
- Democratic Party state Chair Jay Jacobs says polls showing a tightening race are to be expected
“A national off shore wind training center right to Long Island,” Hochul says. “Right here. So, congratulations. We are going to make it happen. Stop talking about it. Let’s do it. Let’s get the job done.”
Zeldin held no public events for the second day in a row with less than three weeks to go before Election Day. But his campaign did send this letter to the Hochul campaign demanding that she agree to more debates.
So, far Hochul has only agreed to one, on NY1 next Tuesday.
“One debate may be the rock bottom standard you sadly aspire to, but it is not enough. It’s time for you to face the music, Kathy,” the letter said. “No one has even elected you Governor and you are acting as an Emperor Governor running for a 16th term with tremendous contempt for New Yorkers.”
Responding to Zeldin, a spokesperson for the Hochul campaign said “Lee Zeldin is hiding from New Yorkers because he can’t handle tough questions about his extreme views and dangerous far-right agenda. Governor Hochul plans to debate Lee Zeldin next Tuesday on Spectrum and looks forward to seeing him there.”
But Zeldin hasn’t yet said whether he’ll attend the debate. Organizers have asked for a reply by Friday.
With polls showing the race tightening, NY1 asked state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs why Hochul seems to be losing ground.
“There is going to be some tightening. It’s going to get more competitive as we go along. What I am comforted by is that overwhelmingly, in every poll I’ve seen, Democrats are exactly where they are supposed to be supporting the Democratic candidate. That’s critical,” Jacobs said.
Republicans seem to think that the current momentum is on their side in this race. Democrats say the polls consistently show Hochul at 50%, which is exactly where the incumbent needs to be to win.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 29.