On Sunday, Governor Kathy Hochul criticized Elise Stefanik, a likely competitor from the GOP, labeling the party’s election efforts as “pathetic.” She expressed concern that if Republicans were to win the governorship, President Trump would wield considerable influence over the state.
Hochul, who noted Trump’s New York roots, warned that such a shift could empower him significantly. “If a Republican takes the governor’s office while I’m in the race, think about the control Trump would have over everything here, even in the city,” she told ABC 7’s “Bill With Bill Ritter and Close.”
She added, “That should make people stop and think for a moment.”
The governor seemed amused at the possibility of Trump influencing New York’s GOP, particularly in regard to Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), urging him not to challenge her.
Hochul also took aim at upstate representative Stefanik, who is anticipated to run against her in 2026, accusing her of exploiting a politically charged climate.
This criticism followed a tragic shooting in midtown last week, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including an NYPD officer. Stefanik spotlighted a 2020 social media post from a democratic socialist mayoral candidate, Zoran Mamdani, who had labeled the NYPD as “racist” and criticized public safety.
Stefanik remarked, “Flashback: Kathy Hochul’s very own Comey Mamdani is a dishonorable and really unfit to be Mayor of New York.”
Hochul responded the same day, stating, “It’s pathetic, especially in a city that’s mourning, that we’re taking cheap shots and speculating that he has something to do with this. Come on.”
While Hochul is set to be a frontrunner until 2026, Republicans have made significant gains in various states lately. For instance, in 2022, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin lost to Hochul by approximately 6.4 percentage points.
Hochul also reiterated her call for a ban on “assault rifles,” highlighting concerns about gun violence and the potential for shooters to travel from places like Nevada to target innocents in New York City.
“Why are we even allowing these weapons of mass destruction to be sold anywhere in America? Other countries are successfully banning them,” she queried. “Why can’t Congress and the President take action and say, ‘This should no longer exist’?”
Witnesses noted that the gunman, who ultimately turned the weapon on himself, was armed with an M4 rifle as he approached the building.
Hochul asserted that enforcing gun control requires “political courage,” and she made a pointed reference to Trump.
“I’m ready to debate,” she stated. “It’s crucial, and you just never know when something might become a breaking point.”
“This is Trump’s hometown. He knows these streets, these buildings, and so does anyone who understands the daily vulnerabilities faced by people in Midtown.”
