Live Updates: Hochul and Zeldin Meet in Governor's Debate in New York - The New York Times

1 year ago 41

Nicholas Fandos

Updated 

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:05 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:05 p.m. ET

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, a Democrat, and her Republican opponent, Representative Lee Zeldin, are gathering Tuesday nighttime for their archetypal and lone statement successful a contention that has grown unexpectedly adjacent successful its last days.

The one-hour statement promises to beryllium a tense confrontation implicit however to code rising transgression and inflation, threats to termination rights and Mr. Zeldin’s ties to erstwhile President Donald J. Trump, 1 of the astir reviled men successful New York. After Ms. Hochul entered the autumn predetermination play arsenic a wide favorite, respective caller pools person shown Mr. Zeldin, a blimpish four-term congressman, gaining crushed successful New York City and its suburbs, arsenic galore voters blasted Democrats for fast-rising surviving costs and a increasing unease astir crime.

Here’s what to know:

  • Ms. Hochul has made termination access a signature contented successful her campaign, declaring that “the women of New York volition ne'er beryllium subjected to authorities mandated pregnancies. Not here. Not now. Not ever.” After the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ms. Hochul has welcomed termination refugees from different states, allotting $35 cardinal to providers to offset costs. Mr. Zeldin has repeatedly backed efforts to restrict the procedure, voting to defund Planned Parenthood and signing onto national authorities that would prohibition termination nationwide aft 20 weeks.

  • Seizing connected the surge of superior crimes successful New York City, Mr. Zeldin passim his run has said helium would marque instrumentality and bid his apical precedence if elected, blaming the emergence connected transgression justness policies enacted by progressive lawmakers arsenic good arsenic connected left-leaning prosecutors. After 2 teenage boys were changeable extracurricular his home connected Long Island 3 weeks ago, helium redoubled his efforts to separate his tough-on-crime connection from that of Ms. Hochul, who has touted her efforts to toughen bail laws and stem the travel of amerciable guns.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:34 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:34 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

Hochul to Zeldin: “Yes oregon no: Is Donald Trump a large president?” Zeldin does accidental yes oregon no, but helium lists Trump’s accomplishments. “i’ll instrumentality that arsenic a resounding yes,” Hochul concludes.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

Zeldin keeps mentioning the lawsuit of Jose Alba, a clerk who was initially charged with execution for stabbing a antheral who attacked him portion helium was moving successful an Upper Manhattan bodega. The charges against Mr. Alba were yet dropped.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

We are halfway done the debate, and the candidates are present asking each different questions. Zeldin asks Hochul what circumstantial measures she volition instrumentality to “deal with the pay-to-play corruption that is plaguing you and your administration.” Hochul says she rejects the premise.

Emma Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

Emma Fitzsimmons

Zeldin keeps trying to crook the speech backmost to transgression and bail reform, adjacent during a question play astir abortion. Hochul is remaining calm, but laughs successful vexation implicit his insistence connected discussing crime.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:31 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:31 p.m. ET

Grace Ashford

“You can’t tally from your record,” Hochul says to Zeldin’s effect connected abortion. “You’re the lone idiosyncratic lasting connected this signifier whose sanction close present — not years past — that close now, is connected a measure called ‘Life Begins astatine Conception.’"

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:31 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:31 p.m. ET

Image

Gov. Kathy Hochul, top, has made termination a signature contented successful her campaign, accusing Representative Lee Zeldin, bottom, of favoring restrictions connected termination access.Credit...Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Of the galore issues connected which Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin disagree, fewer are arsenic polarizing arsenic abortion.

Ms. Hochul, a mean Democrat from Buffalo and the archetypal pistillate politician successful New York’s history, has championed access, declaring that “the women of New York volition ne'er beryllium subjected to authorities mandated pregnancies. Not here. Not now. Not ever.”

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s determination to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ms. Hochul has welcomed termination refugees from different states, allotting $35 cardinal to providers to offset costs. She has besides made termination a signature contented successful her campaign, seeking to gully a crisp opposition to Mr. Zeldin, her Republican opponent.

A blimpish congressman, Mr. Zeldin has repeatedly backed efforts to restrict the procedure, voting to defund Planned Parenthood and signing onto national authorities that would prohibition termination nationwide aft 20 weeks.

What those views mightiness mean for New Yorkers is simply a contested point. Earlier this year, Mr. Zeldin told an anti-choice radical that helium “strongly believes” that the 2019 authorities instrumentality guaranteeing termination entree should beryllium rolled back. More recently, helium declared that helium would not alteration the law, saying that doing truthful would necessitate the enactment of the State Legislature.

“Let maine beryllium clear: As governor, I volition not alteration and could not alteration New York’s termination law,” helium said.

Democratic lawmakers have noted that Mr. Zeldin would not request to overturn the authorities instrumentality to bounds access, fixed the galore levers of powerfulness astatine a governor’s disposal.

New York has agelong been a bastion of enactment for abortion, approving the process 3 years earlier Roe v. Wade made it the instrumentality of the land. When the Dobbs determination overturned that close successful June, protests erupted from New York City to the Finger Lakes. But with concerns astir transgression and ostentation high, it is unclear whether termination volition beryllium a determining origin successful November, particularly among undecided oregon plaything voters.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:30 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:30 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

Hochul is pointing to Zeldin’s pivot connected termination rights. “I don’t cognize however you deliberation radical aren’t gonna announcement your past record,” she said. Zeldin voted repeatedly successful Congress to bounds termination rights and celebrated the determination overturning Roe v. Wade. But helium has said helium volition not effort to alteration New York’s termination law.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:26 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:26 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

We are successful Hochul’s wheelhouse now: abortion. Zeldin is connected the antiaircraft here, explaining that adjacent if helium wanted to, helium could not unilaterally alteration New York’s protections.

Emma Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:26 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:26 p.m. ET

Emma Fitzsimmons

Mayor Eric Adams appears to beryllium watching the debate. He conscionable posted enactment for Hochul connected Twitter: “New Yorkers merit information & justice, & we can’t compromise connected either,” helium said. “Kathy Hochul is the lone campaigner for Gov who volition basal up to extremists & backmost communal consciousness weapon laws that support our communities safe.”

Michael Gold

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:25 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:25 p.m. ET

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Representative Lee Zeldin, arsenic good arsenic immoderate section businesses successful New York City, reason congestion pricing.Credit...Stephanie Keith for The New York Times

As Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican campaigner for politician of New York, has made ostentation and the system a cardinal portion of his campaign, helium has assailed his opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, for supporting a congestion pricing program that would toll drivers entering the busiest parts of Manhattan.

Under the plan, vehicles traveling beneath 60th Street would beryllium taxable to a toll, with the gross directed toward improving the city’s aging subway strategy and different determination proscription improvements. Similar programs implemented successful London, Stockholm and Singapore person taken cars disconnected traffic-choked streets and fought clime alteration by lowering emissions.

Ms. Hochul, who took bureau successful 2021, has embraced the program, which was approved by the State Legislature and erstwhile Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo successful 2019. Ms. Hochul has said it volition supply the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the bureau that runs the city’s subway, with important funds for much-needed upgrades.

Many of the details astir congestion pricing, which is expected to beryllium implemented successful 2024, person yet to beryllium determined, including however overmuch drivers volition beryllium charged and who mightiness person exemptions from the toll.

But Mr. Zeldin and different Republican lawmakers successful the portion person staunchly opposed the plan, arguing that it would marque commuting much costly for middle-class New Yorkers astatine a clip erstwhile ostentation has already enactment them successful a precarious economical position.

Earlier this year, the M.T.A. released a survey that said the drivers entering the toll portion could beryllium charged anyplace betwixt $5 and $23 per trip, depending connected a fig of factors.

Mr. Zeldin has vowed to halt the programme from being implemented if helium is elected. He has said that helium would alternatively absorption connected boosting information connected nationalist transit to assistance the proscription authorization gully backmost riders it mislaid during the pandemic and the fares they erstwhile paid.

But adjacent erstwhile the authorization had record-high ridership, its revenues were not capable to money the improvements it needed. Mr. Zeldin has successful the past endorsed cost-cutting measures similar reducing overtime spending and having the bureau merchantability disconnected existent property holdings.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:24 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:24 p.m. ET

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New York City has struggled to retrieve from the pandemic, with a higher unemployment complaint than the authorities oregon country.Credit...John Taggart for The New York Times

With rising prices and rents playing a large relation successful the governor’s race, Representative Lee Zeldin vowed successful Tuesday night’s statement that New York “is going to beryllium backmost unfastened for business” if he’s elected, portion Gov. Kathy Hochul touted her committedness to gathering much affordable lodging statewide.

New York City has continued to lag the remainder of the state successful recovering from the pandemic, with unemployment numbers overmuch worse successful the metropolis than successful the remainder of the state. Nearly each region extracurricular the metropolis has an authoritative unemployment complaint arsenic debased arsenic oregon little than the U.S. complaint of 3.5 percent, portion New York City is importantly higher, astatine 5.6 percent.

The main crushed is that the metropolis relies truthful heavy connected bureau workers, concern travelers and tourists, and enactment successful those sectors has not afloat recovered. Among the categories of jobs that haven’t been refilled to prepandemic levels are waiters, bartenders, edifice maids and bureau cleaners. Transit ridership is inactive lone astir two-thirds of prepandemic levels, portion bureau occupancy is conscionable present pushing 50 percent for the archetypal clip since aboriginal 2020.

On the run trail, Mr. Zeldin has repeatedly questioned what Ms. Hochul has done arsenic politician to effort and stem New York’s caller colonisation loss. The authorities has mislaid 319,000 radical since mid-2020, a diminution of 1.58 percent that is higher than different state, chiefly arsenic a effect of residents moving away, according to an analysis by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

As galore experts brace for a imaginable fiscal downturn, colonisation nonaccomplishment could person an further adverse interaction connected the state’s taxation revenues, which are heavy reliant not lone connected the income taxation from the state’s affluent residents, but besides from Wall Street’s performance.

Mr. Zeldin has vowed to slash taxes crossed the committee successful New York, which has 1 of the highest taxation rates successful the nation. Ms. Hochul has said she does not enactment raising taxes, and she accrued the state’s fiscal reserves importantly successful the authorities fund earlier this year, portion promising to make an situation that volition some pull concern and make high- paying jobs for workers.

Her run has precocious trumpeted an statement she helped facilitate to get Micron to physique a semiconductor installation adjacent Syracuse, a woody that the institution said could make much than 50,000 jobs and implicit $100 cardinal successful spending implicit 2 decades.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:24 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:24 p.m. ET

Grace Ashford

Zeldin takes a question astir affordable lodging arsenic an accidental to deed a large Republican talking point: that precocious taxes person made New York unattractive for businesses. Hochul talks astir including $25 cardinal for affordable lodging successful her past budget.

Ana Ley

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:23 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:23 p.m. ET

Ana Ley

Zeldin criticizes Hochul’s determination to enactment congestion pricing, a programme that would toll drivers to scope Manhattan’s busiest streets. It is 1 of New York’s astir contentious proscription projects, and politicians extracurricular Manhattan person been loudly opposed to it.

Emma Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:21 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:21 p.m. ET

Emma Fitzsimmons

Zeldin, who is Jewish, has mentioned hatred crimes against Jewish radical respective times during the debate. There were 20 hatred crimes against Jewish radical successful New York City successful September, the highest of immoderate taste group. Both Zeldin and Hochul person courted Jewish voters, and Zeldin was precocious greeted similar a stone prima successful Hasidic Brooklyn.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:20 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:20 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

Hochul is laser focused connected Zeldin’s legislature voting grounds connected everything from guns to clime alteration tonight.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:18 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:18 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

When she was campaigning successful Harlem this weekend, Hochul often received the loudest applause erstwhile she talked astir warring amerciable guns. She has mentioned her enactment against amerciable guns respective times successful the archetypal 15 minutes of the debate.

Dana Rubinstein

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:16 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:16 p.m. ET

Dana Rubinstein

At slightest doubly truthful far, Hochul has reminded viewers that Zeldin supported Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the statesmanlike election, a wide effort to combat Zeldin’s ain efforts to formed himself arsenic much moderate.

Ana Ley

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:16 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:16 p.m. ET

Ana Ley

Hochul talks astir her propulsion to bring cameras to subway trains. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is installing 2 information cameras connected each car.

Emma Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:15 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:15 p.m. ET

Emma Fitzsimmons

Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is moving with Mayor Eric Adams to adhd constabulary officers connected the subway. Both Hochul and Lee Zeldin are trying to align themselves with Adams, a mean Democrat who has called himself the “future of the Democratic Party.”

Dana Rubinstein

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:15 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:15 p.m. ET

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Credit...Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

After the Supreme Court overturned century-old weapon restrictions this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul rapidly convened an bonzer league of the State Legislature and passed caller laws restricting wherever New Yorkers tin transportation concealed handguns. She described the caller laws arsenic “swift and bold enactment to support New Yorkers.”

Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican campaigner for governor, responded by comparing her to Jane Fonda and accusing Ms. Hochul of stripping New Yorkers of their rightful freedoms.

The opposition successful positions continued successful Tuesday night’s debate, arsenic the politician sought to crook a speech astir transgression into a critique of Mr. Zeldin’s positions connected guns. Yet determination was a clip erstwhile the candidates’ views connected weapon laws were much intimately aligned.

In Ms. Hochul’s 2012 tally for Congress successful occidental New York, the National Rifle Association endorsed her against a Republican opponent, citing her enactment for policies that made it easier to get a gun.

But Ms. Hochul’s views connected the substance person evolved successful measurement with her governmental ascent successful a authorities wherever Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans. Her efforts to marque it harder for unsafe and mentally sick radical to get deadly weapons lone intensified pursuing this year’s mass shooting astatine a supermarket successful Buffalo, Ms. Hochul’s location turf.

After the shooting, Ms. Hochul and the State Legislature passed caller laws requiring New Yorkers beryllium astatine slightest 21 to bargain a semiautomatic rifle, banning astir civilians from buying bullet-resistant assemblage vests and strengthening the state’s alleged red emblem laws, which let authorities to support guns distant from individuals who are considered a menace to themselves oregon others.

On Monday, Ms. Hochul announced that those red-flag laws are present starring to much court-issued “extreme hazard extortion orders,” which forestall definite individuals from having guns, and she besides dedicated much backing to the enforcement effort.

Since the instrumentality was strengthened this year, authorities courts person issued 1,908 orders, much than treble the fig issued since August 2019, erstwhile a anterior iteration of a reddish emblem instrumentality went into effect.

Mr. Zeldin has questioned reddish emblem laws and whether they people “law-abiding citizens,” and helium mostly has opposed astir weapon power and weapon information measures.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:14 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:14 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

There is simply a wide quality successful however Zeldin and Hochul are trying to travel crossed tonight. A fewer minutes in, Zeldin is raising his voice, rocking astatine his podium and channeling a consciousness of outrage astir crime. Hochul, connected the different hand, is taking a much measured, restrained attack that tracks with her message: Calm down, we tin grip this.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:14 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:14 p.m. ET

Grace Ashford

Hochul fires backmost astatine Zeldin’s pledge to region the Manhattan territory attorney, Alvin Bragg: “I’m not surprised, due to the fact that successful Lee Zeldin’s satellite you overturn elections you don’t hold with,” she says, referring to Zeldin’s enactment of Donald Trump.

Michael Gold

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:13 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:13 p.m. ET

Michael Gold

Lee Zeldin earlier said that rolling backmost bail betterment efforts was the “will of the people.” But helium is present doubling down connected a committedness to region Alvin Bragg arsenic Manhattan’s territory attorney, adjacent though Bragg was elected by Manhattan residents.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:12 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:12 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

Earlier this year, Hochul irritated respective Black leaders, including the pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church successful Harlem and the Rev. Al Sharpton, erstwhile she affirmed that she had the powerfulness to region Alvin Bragg arsenic the territory lawyer of Manhattan. She yet backed off.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:12 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:12 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

Until recently, New York City Mayor Eric Adams focused, without credible evidence, connected bail betterment arsenic the origin of a emergence successful crime. That assertion damaged Kathy Hochul who had already negotiated changes to the bail instrumentality successful the budget.

Emma Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

Emma Fitzsimmons

Lee Zeldin says New Yorkers are disquieted astir subway safety. There person been 9 murders connected the subway this twelvemonth — a fig that is overmuch higher than successful the years starring up to the pandemic, erstwhile determination were typically lone 2 murders per year.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

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New York’s changes successful bail instrumentality person go 1 of the astir contentious transgression justness issues successful caller years.Credit...Michael Appleton for The New York Times

New York’s bail laws person incited divisive reactions since being made little restrictive successful 2020, and it was hardly astonishing that they would look again arsenic a taxable of contention successful Tuesday’s debate.

Representative Lee Zeldin, a Long Island Republican, has blamed increases successful convulsive transgression since the pandemic began connected the changes to the bail laws, portion Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has defended the tone of the changes. But adjacent she precocious successfully pushed to marque them stricter.

The authorities itself was implemented conscionable months earlier the pandemic caused society-wide upheaval. Aimed astatine reducing the disparity betwixt affluent and mediocre defendants, the instrumentality restricted judges’ quality to acceptable bail to lone the astir superior crimes.

In summation to making the justness strategy fairer, the reforms represented an effort to trim recidivism successful the agelong word by helping defendants debar pretrial incarceration and its cascading effects, specified arsenic losing jobs oregon housing.

But a nationwide emergence successful convulsive transgression during the pandemic has thrust the reforms into a caller light.

Prosecutors and constabulary successful New York have criticized the changes to the bail laws, saying they let criminals to offend implicit and implicit with impunity. The laws person already been tightened twice, erstwhile soon aft implementation and again at the urging of Ms. Hochul successful the past authorities budget.

The astir caller changes grow the database of crimes that are eligible for bail and connection judges the discretion to see further factors erstwhile mounting bail, specified arsenic whether a suspect has been accused of causing “serious harm” oregon has a past of utilizing a gun.

The amendments besides let judges to acceptable bail for immoderate insignificant crimes, including shoplifting, if the suspect is considered a repetition offender.

Ms. Hochul has said that she is amenable to reviewing the bail laws a 3rd clip successful the adjacent league but is waiting for conclusive information to marque her decision. Mr. Zeldin has said that if elected, helium would suspend the authorities bail laws utilizing enforcement authority, successful an effort to unit Democratic lawmakers to the bargaining table.

Dana Rubinstein

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:11 p.m. ET

Dana Rubinstein

Hochul instantly seeks to refocus the transgression statement connected guns, and Lee Zeldin’s absorption to the state’s weapon laws, which see a caller prohibition connected selling battle weapons to those who are nether 21 years old. “You can’t adjacent bash that, it’s rather extraordinary,” Hochul says.

Jeff Mays

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:10 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:10 p.m. ET

Jeff Mays

Kathy Hochul has begun to absorption much connected the enactment she has done to bounds amerciable guns successful the past fewer weeks of the run arsenic Lee Zeldin has pushed transgression arsenic the apical contented successful the state.

Dana Rubinstein

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:09 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:09 p.m. ET

Dana Rubinstein

It took lone 1 question for Rep. Lee Zeldin to notation Mayor Eric Adams and their alignment connected rolling backmost bail reforms successful New York State.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:07 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:07 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

Kathy Hochul says she, too, is warring to amended nationalist information successful New York. But she besides pivoted to commencement drafting contrasts with the much blimpish Zeldin connected termination and Donald J. Trump.

Dana Rubinstein

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:06 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:06 p.m. ET

Dana Rubinstein

In her opening remarks, Gov. Kathy Hochul mentions “public safety” earlier abortion, successful an denotation of however the trajectory of this contention has shifted since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:06 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:06 p.m. ET

Grace Ashford

Lee Zeldin begins the evening by lobbing grenades. “You’re mediocre and little harmless due to the fact that of Kathy Hochul and utmost policies,” helium says. Expect some candidates to entreaty to voters successful the mediate tonight, accusing their rival of being excessively utmost for New York.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

In his opening statement, Lee Zeldin is coating a beauteous bleak representation of the authorities of New York nether Democratic rule. “You’re poorer and little harmless acknowledgment to Kathy Hochul,” helium said.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Nicholas Fandos

Each campaigner volition get 60 seconds to marque an opening statement. Zeldin volition spell first.

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 7:04 p.m. ET

Grace Ashford

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin look disconnected successful the archetypal and lone statement of the gubernatorial contention contiguous astatine Pace University.

Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:50 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:50 p.m. ET

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Representative Lee Zeldin had pressed for arsenic galore arsenic 5 debates, but Gov. Kathy Hochul would lone consent to one. Credit...Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The statement connected Tuesday nighttime betwixt Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Representative Lee Zeldin, a Republican, is expected to beryllium the lone clip the 2 candidates for politician volition look disconnected earlier Election Day connected Nov. 8.

The statement volition headdress a weekslong saga of governmental gamesmanship aft the candidates failed to hold connected a acceptable fig of debates, sparking a carousel of taunts that culminated with the tabloids moving a photograph connected their beforehand pages of Ms. Hochul successful a yellowish chickenhearted suit.

Indeed, it was not adjacent wide that the statement connected Tuesday would instrumentality spot until this weekend, erstwhile Mr. Zeldin, who had held retired successful protest, yet confirmed his participation.

Mr. Zeldin had challenged Ms. Hochul to arsenic galore arsenic 5 debates, surmising that, arsenic the challenger trailing successful fund-raising, helium would basal to payment from holding arsenic galore arsenic possible. That maneuver could person fixed him escaped airtime, boosted his sanction designation among voters and perchance provided him an accidental to elevate his lasting successful the race.

Ms. Hochul, wary of aiding her opponent, remained noncommittal to immoderate statement until precocious past month, erstwhile she accepted an invitation to the Spectrum News NY1 statement but nary others.

For astir a month, though, Mr. Zeldin refused to judge the invitation to the Spectrum debate, opting to proceed to exert unit connected Ms. Hochul to statement him much than once.

In the end, Mr. Zeldin, who was apt ne'er going to walk connected the accidental to stock the signifier with the governor, succumbed to Ms. Hochul, who ever held the vantage arsenic the incumbent.

Ms. Hochul’s stance is not antithetic among incumbent governors successful New York. In 2018, Andrew M. Cuomo besides agreed to a azygous debate with his Republican opponent, Marcus J. Molinaro, who had repeatedly accused him of making “a mockery of democracy” and “hiding from nationalist scrutiny.”

In 1994, Mr. Cuomo’s father, Mario M. Cuomo, refused altogether to statement George E. Pataki. Mr. Pataki, a Republican, prevailed nevertheless successful an upset victory, but helium did not statement his opponents successful the adjacent election, successful 1998.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:30 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:30 p.m. ET

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Gov. Kathy Hochul, attending an lawsuit past play astatine a Harlem assemblage center, has precocious accrued the frequence of her run appearances.Credit...Thalia Juarez for The New York Times

Despite weeks of atrocious polls and headlines, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York enters the archetypal and lone statement of the contention with a humble lead. Her main task Tuesday nighttime is to support it, but that whitethorn not beryllium arsenic casual arsenic it looks.

Ms. Hochul, the Democratic incumbent, remains convinced that left-leaning New York volition ne'er judge a politician arsenic acold to the close arsenic her opponent, Representative Lee Zeldin. So she is apt to amp up attacks connected his ties to erstwhile President Donald J. Trump, and his grounds opposing termination rights, which are already saturating the tv advertisement wars.

But astatine a clip erstwhile nationalist sentiment polls amusement that fears astir transgression and ostentation are astatine the forefront of voters’ minds, Ms. Hochul besides needs to amusement New Yorkers that she is acting decisively and has a program to amended their prime of life.

Mr. Zeldin has spent astir of his run focused connected those issues and appears to beryllium benefiting accordingly successful the polls. Even Democrats present admit that they whitethorn person misjudged however overmuch the contented matters to voters, leaving the politician to play catch-up and tout her grounds connected weapon information and policing, portion pointing retired inconsistencies successful Mr. Zeldin’s.

The statement whitethorn besides beryllium Ms. Hochul’s past high-profile accidental to item what she has accomplished successful the 14 months since she unexpectedly became politician and articulate a imaginativeness for what she would similar to bash with 4 much years successful office.

Nicholas Fandos

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:12 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 6:12 p.m. ET

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In Tuesday’s debate, Lee Zeldin volition apt beryllium pressed to relationship for his adjacent ties to erstwhile President Donald J. Trump, portion helium plays up elector concerns astir transgression and inflation.Credit...Amir Hamja for The New York Times

Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for politician of New York, has spent his run trying to entreaty to disgruntled New Yorkers furious astatine the rising costs of surviving oregon fearful of transgression that has ballooned since the coronavirus pandemic began.

But arsenic helium takes the statement signifier connected Tuesday, Mr. Zeldin has different captious mission: convincing much autarkic and adjacent left-leaning voters that helium is simply a safe, middle-of-the-road alternate to the Democrats they are utilized to starring them successful the state.

Above all, that volition mean clarifying his presumption connected New York’s termination protections. Mr. Zeldin has opposed termination rights successful Congress and celebrated the Supreme Court’s caller determination overturning Roe v. Wade. But a woman’s close to take is considered sacrosanct by galore New Yorkers, and the congressman is present pledging that helium won’t effort to alteration the state’s strict termination protections if elected governor, contempt past statements.

With momentum connected his broadside successful the race, Mr. Zeldin volition besides beryllium looking to further hobble the chances of Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Democratic incumbent.

He is each but definite to elevate attacks helium has delivered connected the run way that impeach the politician of selling retired her bureau to the highest run donor and doing excessively small to respond to elevated transgression and surviving costs crossed the state.

But Mr. Zeldin volition besides beryllium pressed to relationship for his close ties for erstwhile President Donald J. Trump, who remains profoundly unpopular successful New York, and his ballot connected Jan. 6, 2021, to overturn the results of the 2020 predetermination successful cardinal plaything states. The situation volition beryllium trying to show to the erstwhile president’s critics that Mr. Zeldin is his ain antheral without alienating Mr. Trump oregon his loyal supporters.

Emma G. Fitzsimmons

Oct. 25, 2022, 5:54 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 5:54 p.m. ET

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Representative Lee Zeldin, left, and Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, astatine abstracted run events this week.Credit...Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, Thalia Juarez for The New York Times

After months of astir polls showing Gov. Kathy Hochul with a double-digit lead, the contention has precocious tightened.

Ms. Hochul, the Democratic incumbent, saw her pb implicit Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate, shrink to 11 percent points, down from 17 points past month, according to a Siena College canvass released past week.

Another poll, by Quinnipiac University, recovered Ms. Hochul starring by conscionable 4 percent points. Voters ranked transgression arsenic the astir urgent contented facing the state, followed by ostentation and protecting democracy, according to the Quinnipiac poll.

Mr. Zeldin has focused connected transgression and precocious posted a video of a antheral being shoved connected to the subway tracks arsenic an illustration of the “dangerous world of beingness successful Kathy Hochul’s New York.”

Ms. Hochul has portrayed Mr. Zeldin arsenic a menace to the state’s strict termination protections and highlighted Mr. Zeldin’s adjacent ties to erstwhile President Donald J. Trump.

The suburbs are a competitory battleground for the 2 candidates: Mr. Zeldin was beating Ms. Hochul 49 percent to 45 percent there, according to the Siena poll.

Steven Greenberg, a Siena College pollster, said that pessimism among voters was helping Mr. Zeldin. When asked if New York State was connected the close way oregon headed successful the incorrect direction, 52 percent of voters said it was headed successful the incorrect direction.

“While Democrats are bullish connected the absorption of the state, Republicans overwhelmingly, and independents by a wide margin, are not,” Mr. Goldberg said. “That works to Zeldin’s advantage.”

Michael Gold

Oct. 25, 2022, 5:30 p.m. ET

Oct. 25, 2022, 5:30 p.m. ET

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Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, and Representative Lee Zeldin, right.Credit...Hans Pennink/Associated Press, Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock

The archetypal and lone statement successful the predetermination for New York’s politician is scheduled to statesman astatine 7 p.m. Tuesday astatine Pace University successful New York City.

The debate, hosted by Spectrum News NY1, comes aft a contentious back-and-forth betwixt the incumbent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Representative Lee Zeldin, a Republican, implicit erstwhile and whether they would instrumentality the statement stage.

The one-hour statement volition beryllium aired connected tv connected NY1 successful New York City and connected Spectrum News channels crossed the state. It volition beryllium carried connected the vigor connected WNYC (93.9 FM and 820 AM).

Spectrum News volition besides watercourse the statement unrecorded connected the Spectrum News app and connected NY1.com for viewers who bash not subscribe to a cablegram institution that carries NY1. WNYC volition watercourse it connected WNYC.org.

A squad of reporters from The New York Times volition supply unrecorded commentary and investigation during the debate, which volition beryllium moderated by Susan Arbetter, who hosts Spectrum News’s authorities authorities amusement “Capital Tonight,” and Errol Louis, the big of NY1’s “Inside City Hall.”

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