News organizations are projecting that on January 1st, Kathy Hochul will become the first woman to ascend to a full term as New York’s governor. With over 80% of districts reporting, Hochul holds a 8-point advantage over her Republican opponent, Congressman Lee Zeldin.
“I’m not here to make history, I’m here to make a difference,” Hochul told supporters, “I will lead with strength and compassion, not with fear and anger.
It’s a result that bucks weeks of concern from political insiders as polls showed a strong lead over Zeldin narrow. And it comes despite Zeldin improving on the Republican share of the vote in New York, compared to 2018, almost getting his desired 30% of the vote amongst NYC counties.
In New York City, Zeldin gained 34% more votes compared to his 2018 counterpart, Marc Molinaro, across all NYC boroughs, even winning a majority of Staten Island outright, which Molinaro failed to do. The most dramatic increase was in the Bronx, where Zeldin got 74% more of the vote than Molinaro did four years ago.
Zeldin’s flaw appears to be raw numbers. His vote total from NYC is equal to more than 80% of the total registered Republican voters in the boroughs, compared to nearly 30% for Hochul. But with 3.5 million registered Democrats in the city alone, enthusiasm can only get someone so far. Questions remain over how close the final result will be.
City and State NY reported that Zeldin would not concede the election. UPDATE 11/10: Zeldin has since conceded the election over the phone and in a press statement. As a member of Congress, Zeldin voted to decertify election results from 2020, in an effort blamed for leading to the Janaury 6th attack on the US Capitol. Some voters said that event discouraged them from voting Republican from then on.
“As a result of January 6th, I’m never voting Republican again,” said Edward Mahanna, 75, registered Democrat. “I have voted Republican in the past.”
Zeldin told supporters at his campaign headquarters that there were still Election Day votes coming in that may clench victory from the jaws of defeat.
“There’s a piece of this story that’s still to be told,” Zeldin said. “It’s going to be a little frustrating for members of the media who never wanted us to ever be in contention in New York.”
It’s a refrain that does not yet challenge the validity of the election results. Polling from Siena this September showed that 41% of Republicans thought they wouldn’t be able to accept the results of the 2022 election. Supporters of Zeldin have shared similar concerns on the trail.
“They say that there’s no evidence of widespread voter fraud,” said Adam Francisco, who believes Donald Trump won the 2020 election. “And I think that it was targeted voter fraud. I think that’s what happened.”
Voters in East Harlem said that they had no reason to question the election results would be fair and accurate.
“To me, it’s more along the lines of really playing a game of sour grapes,” said Rick Murrieta, 67, independent. “If you lose an election, don’t blame the machines.”
Conservatives have argued that Democrats have argued over election results in the past. Just this year, Democratic candidate for governor in Georgia Stacey Abrams backed a lawsuit alleging Georgia officials “grossly mishandled” her governor’s race in 2018, highlighting concerns that people of color were disenfranchised.
“Let me begin by offering congratulations to Governor Brian Kemp,” Abrams told supporters in a concession speech last night.
Categories: Politics
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