Hochul Defends Her Efforts in Congress Elections

In a recent appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, New York Governor Kathy Hochul asserted her commitment to supporting Democratic congressional candidates, claiming no governor in the state's history has worked harder for their election. Hochul's comments were a direct response to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's remarks at the Democratic National Convention, where she suggested that Hochul's narrow victory over Republican Lee Zeldin in the gubernatorial race contributed to the loss of four Democratic-held House seats. Hochul, who won the gubernatorial race by just 6 percentage points, disagreed with Pelosi's assessment, emphasizing her extensive fundraising efforts for the New York Democratic Party and her collaboration with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other party leaders. She expressed confidence in her ability to mobilize support in key swing districts, including the Hudson Valley, Syracuse, Central New York, and Long Island, as Election Day approaches. With the 2024 elections on the horizon, Hochul indicated that she would have more time to campaign for other candidates since she is not running for office this year. This shift in focus allows her to concentrate on bolstering Democratic chances in competitive districts across the state. Pelosi, while acknowledging she has not directly communicated with Hochul regarding the upcoming elections, expressed optimism about the Democratic Party's prospects, particularly highlighting her collaboration with Jeffries, whom she referred to as a potential future Speaker of the House.