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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday pushed back against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s suggestion that the governor’s weakness in the Empire State has cost Democrats.
“I will tell you, no governor in the history of New York State has worked harder to elect members of Congress than I have,” Hochul said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We’re going to win this on the spot because I know how to do it. Now I have the opportunity to focus on that.”
In an interview with POLITICO on Thursday, Pelosi blamed Hochul’s closer-than-expected victory in the 2022 New York gubernatorial race for Democrats’ failure to retain their House majority in that year’s election. New York Republicans flipped four Democratic seats in the midterms when critics suggested Hochul was undermining downvoted candidates.
Asked by Pelosi about that, the governor emphatically replied, “I don’t agree with that.”
Hochul cited fundraising for the New York Democratic Party and delivering it to local counties, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.) and hundreds of others. continued consultation. 35 of the office staff.
Pelosi said Thursday that she had not spoken to Hochul about this year’s races, but had consulted with Jeffries that morning. He emphasized the importance of the “three M’s: mobilization, message, money”.
Hochul acknowledged Friday that he may be “laser focused” on key purple districts — including the Hudson Valley, Syracuse, Central New York and Long Island — now that “I myself am not a candidate this year.”
“We’re going to win these races and we’re going to be strong,” he said.