Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is calling for an investigation into Kari Lake’s release of voter signatures on social media, accusing her of potentially violating state law.
“I am writing today to ask you to investigate and take appropriate enforcement action against Kari Lake for potential violations of Arizona law committed under her Twitter handle,” Fontes, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to state Attorney General Kris Mayes sent on Monday.
Fontes argues that Arizona law “prohibits posting any information derived from voter registration forms or precinct registers to the internet” and no one other than the voter or an authorized person may reproduce a voter’s signature.
“A violation of this provision is a Class 6 felony,” Fontes writes.
Lake, a Republican and former local TV news anchor who was defeated by Democrat Katie Hobbs in Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial contest, posted the 16 signatures from 2020 ballots in a Jan. 23 tweet where she claimed they were part of a “bombshell discovery” of allegedly mismatched signatures that should not have been counted.
Despite losing the Arizona race by more than 17,000 votes, Lake has refused to accept the results of the election.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes wants an investigation into Kari Lake for possible violations of her releasing voter signatures on social media.Getty Images
She has appealed a December ruling by an Arizona judge who found there was no clear or convincing evidence of misconduct in the 2022 election and affirmed Hobbs’ victory.
Lake also held a “Save Arizona Rally” in Scottsdale on Sunday where she referred to Hobbs as a “squatter in the governor’s office.” Former President Donald Trump called into the rally and declared it “a shame what happened” during the November election, adding that “ultimately she’s going to be victorious.”
In December, Lake dodged significant monetary sanctions after a judge rejected pleas by Hobbs to find the Republican liable for more than $500,000 in attorney fees. Arizona Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson however did rule that Lake must pay $33,000 for the expert witnesses hired by Hobbs in defense of her Nov. 8 election victory.
Former President Donald Trump called Monday for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other GOP senators who voted with him to pass the $1.7 trillion spending bill last month to face primary challengers.
The 76-year-old Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, first hailed Rep. Kevin McCarthy becoming House speaker and then blasted McConnell and the other GOP senators for caving on the spending bill before Republicans could take control of the House on Jan. 3.
“We must now stop Mitch McConnell,” Trump said before once again referring to his wife, Elaine Chao, with a racial slur.
“It’s as though he just doesn’t care anymore, he pushes through anything the Democrats want. The $1.7 TRILLION quickly approved Bill of the week before was HORRIBLE. Zero for USA Border Security,” the former president said.
Former President Donald Trump is calling for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to face
a primary challenge after voting for the $1.7 trillion spending package last month. AFP via Getty Images
“If he waited just ten days, the now ‘United Republican Congress’ could have made it MUCH BETTER, or KILLED IT. Something is wrong with McConnell, and those Republican Senators that Vote with him. PRIMARY THEM ALL!!!” he concluded in the posting.
Trump and the Senate GOP leader, who was reelected in 2020, have been squabbling since the midterm elections in November — when Republicans won a narrow majority in the House but failed to flip the Senate even though their party’s candidates were expected to make historic gains.
The Senate voted 68-29 to approve the bill last month and sent it to the House, which passed it the next day, averting a partial government shutdown.
Elaine Chao, Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife, served as Transportation Secretary in the Trump administration. Getty Images
Eighteen Republican senators voted for the spending package, including Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Graham said the bill was “less than perfect” but, like other Republicans, embraced the $76 billion in increased military funding it contained.
“This bill is a big win for the American military. It gives a much-needed boost to the Department of Defense and a well-deserved pay raise to our men and women in uniform. A ten percent increase in defense spending will add real dollars to our defense budget,” Graham said in a statement after the vote.
Other Senate Republicans who backed the spending bill included Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman of Arkansas, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Richard Shelby of Alabama, John Thune of South Dakota, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Todd Young of Indiana.
Of the 18, only Romney and Wicker are up for re-election in 2024.
McCarthy, then the GOP leader in the House, was incensed that Democrats pushed the legislation through before the next Congress when Republicans would be in control.
“The country is tired of it. They fired you. They chose a new direction for our country by electing a House Republican majority for the 118th Congress,” McCarthy fumed at his Democratic counterparts.
“If you dearly cared about the people, why wouldn’t you let everybody read it? Why wouldn’t you let them debate it? Why wouldn’t you simply wait 11 days? Just wait 11 days.”
Contests in Alaska’s Senate, House, and gubernatorial races were called on Wednesday, more than two weeks after Election Day.
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin lost her latest attempt at a political comeback, losing the race for Alaska’s at-large district to Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK). Peltola had previously won a congressional special election race over the summer to finish out the term of the late-Rep. Don Young (R), who died in March. She is the first Native Alaskan to serve in Congress.
“WE DID IT!!!” Peltola said in a tweet on Wednesday celebrating her victory. She defeated Palin by about 23,000 votes, or 54.9% to 45.1%.
In the state’s Senate race, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski fended off her Trump-endorsed opponent Kelly Tshibaka to win reelection to her seat.
The centrist Murkowski, who was first elected to the Senate 20 years ago, won the ranked-choice election with 53.7% of the vote to Tshibaka’s 46.3%.
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin lost her latest lost her race for Alaska’s at-large district to Rep. Mary Peltola. REUTERS
“Thank you, Alaska,” Murkowski said in a tweet on Wednesday. “I am honored that Alaskans – of all regions, backgrounds and party affiliations – have once again granted me their confidence to continue working with them and on their behalf in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to continuing the important work ahead of us.”
Finally, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy was declared the winner in his reelection race against Democrat Les Gara and independent Bill Walker. Dunleavy prevailed by more than 50% of first choice votes.
In 2020, voters in Alaska approved a switch to a ranked-choice voting system. Under the new system, the top four finishers in the states open primary elections advance to the general election, where voters then rank those four candidates from first choice to fourth choice.
Kelly Tshibaka, a Trump-endorsed opponent, was only able to finish out with 46.3%. to Murkowski’s 53.7%. Getty Images
Ranked choice voting was used this year for the first time in the state’s electoral history.
After the Nov. 8 midterm elections, Palin was the first to sign a petition to repeal ranked-choice voting launched by the group Alaskans for Honest Government.
A majority of Americans believe Donald Trump should not run for president again, a new poll reveals, just hours ahead of Trump’s expected announcement of a third presidential campaign.
The Morning Consult/Politico poll, taken after last week’s highly anticipated midterm elections in which Republicans underperformed, shows that 65% of voters say the 76-year-old Trump should “probably” or “definitely” not run, with 53% saying he “definitely” should not.
But the poll also found that he tops DeSantis 47% to 33% among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents if the 2024 GOP primary election were held today.
Former President Donald Trump, seen at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 8, is expected to announce another run for the White House Tuesday evening. AP
Only former Vice President Mike Pence even comes close to Trump and DeSantis, 44, with 5%.
A poster at a ”
Dump Trump” rally in Boston on Oct. 17.Boston Globe via Getty Images
DeSantis, coming off a 20-point win in last Tuesday’s elections, has gained ground while Trump, 76, has not.
A Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 65% of Americans say Donald Trump should “probably” or “definitely” not run for president again. Morning Consult + Politico
He was the selection of 26% of voters in a pre-election poll, while Trump lost a point.
Another 65% also say President Biden shouldn’t run for reelection in 2024, with 45% saying “definitely” not.
A Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 65% of Americans say President Biden should “probably” or “definitely” not run for president again. Morning Consult + Politico
Trump, who had touted the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while campaigning for Republican candidates leading up to Election Day, hyped the significance of it in a posting Tuesday on his Truth Social media network.
“Hopefully TODAY will turn out to be one of the most important days in the history of our Country!” he wrote.
Some Republicans have been urging the former president to pause the announcement until after the Georgia runoff election between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker on Dec. 6.
While Democrats retained control of the Senate, hitting 50 with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s win over Republican Adam Laxalt in Nevada on Saturday, Republicans are hoping to stop them from gaining 51 seats.
But Republican lawmakers appeared ready to move beyond Trump.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) compared the former president to a baseball pitcher past his prime, referring to Republican losses in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
“He’s been on the mound and lost three straight games. If we want to start winning, we need someone else on the mound. And we’ve got a very strong bench that can come out,” Romney said.
“I know, there’s some fans that love him. Just like, you know, an aging pitcher, they’re always fans that want to keep them there forever. But if you keep losing games, try to put some new players on the field,” he said.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), asked if she would back Trump in 2024, said that was the wrong question.
“I think the question is, who is the current leader of the Republican Party?” she said.
Asked who, she responded: “Ron DeSantis.”
The poll surveyed 1,983 registered voters. It has a plus/minus 2 percentage points margin of error.
As Republican Adam Laxalt’s lead in the Nevada Senate race dwindles with 93% of the vote counted, his campaign is reportedly “bracing for a loss” and weighing asking for a recount.
Laxalt is ahead of incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto by just 800 votes after 23,000 mail-in ballots were tabulated in Clark County on Friday. The results from the mail-in ballots are favoring Cortez Masto at a 2-1 rate. Clark County, home to Las Vegas, reportedly has about 27,000 mail-in ballots left to be counted.
“The mood is not great,” a Laxalt campaign adviser told the Daily Mail, adding that staffers are looking for someone to blame.
“I’ll say this, internally, the knives are out,” the person said, explaining that publicly the campaign is projecting confidence while behind the scenes staffers are “bracing for a loss.”
The Laxalt campaign is apparently weighing whether or not to seek a recount in the event of a loss, which would require Laxalt’s team to cover the costs involved.
Laxalt is ahead of Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto by just 800 votes after 23,000 mail-in ballots were tabulated.REUTERS
“There is an internal discussion right now on whether or not to ask for a statewide recount,” the adviser told the Daily Mail. “And that would obviously entail fundraising … so they are working at identifying fundraisers.”
In a tweet on Friday, Laxalt denied claims that his campaign is anticipating a loss.
“This is totally and completely false,” the former Nevada attorney general wrote in a tweet, linking to the report.
“Absolutely nothing has changed since our Tucker interview or my tweet last night. We are waiting on results tonight and expect her percentages to continue to remain under what [Cortez Masto] needs. We still remain confident,” Laxalt concluded.
In a tweet, Laxalt denied claims that his campaign is anticipating a loss. REUTERS
However, the Daily Mail also reports that text messages purportedly between a Laxalt campaign staffer and someone linked to the campaign further corroborate the grim internal outlook.
“Clark and Washoe [counties] mail-in votes will overwhelm [the Laxalt campaign’s] small lead,” one message read. “They thought there were far fewer votes remaining.”
“Trump world wants them to declare fraud before they keep ‘finding votes,’” another message said, suggesting that the campaign employ Trump’s frequently used rhetoric about stolen elections.
Former President Donald Trump is “ranting and raving more than usual” over the GOP’s disastrous midterm election results – even as some members of his inner circle are pushing him to name Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his running mate in 2024, sources told The Post Friday.
The 76-year-old’s mood is so black, one source said, that those close to him are wondering how it will affect his daughter Tiffany’s Mar-a-Lago wedding this weekend.
“He really thought there would be a ‘red wave’ and that his candidates would win,” the source said, referring to bitter defeats by Trump’s chosen Senate contenders like Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Don Bolduc in New Hampshire.
“He feels their losing makes him look weak,” the source added, “but he’s still targeting DeSantis, who he feels is disrespecting him and he thinks he’s the only Republican that might dare challenge him that means anything.”
With DeSantis’ reelection landslide one of the few bright spots on an otherwise horrible night for the GOP, Trump has intensified his attacks on the 44-year-old Florida governor in recent days.
Former President Donald Trump is “ranting and raving” over the red wave that never came in the midterm elections, sources say. AP
“He’s grumpy and unhappy that Ron DeSantis did so well,” the source said of the 45th president, who dubbed his rival “Ron DeSanctimonious” at a Pennsylvania rally Nov. 5, and issued a rambling, ranting statement late Thursday saying DeSantis should not run in 2024 and calling him an “average REPUBLICAN Governor with great Public Relations.”
“He’s in a bad mood … Friends wonder how gregarious he’ll be at Tiffany’s wedding,” the person went on.
Trump’s temper was not improved by The Post’s Thursday cover lampooning him as “Trumpty Dumpty,” with the source saying the former president thought it “called him a fat loser.”
Despite Trump’s fury, some of his allies are trying to persuade him to offer DeSantis the second spot on the 2024 ticket in an effort to unify a fractured Republican party, according to the source — who admitted that the former president’s inner circle doesn’t even know whether the Florida governor would accept.
“He’s going ahead with his announcement, and as of yet won’t be persuaded to delay it,” said the source. “He’s putting together a war plan and is talking about raising over $1.5 billion with donors big and small. He’s more serious than ever.”
However, the appetite for another Trump run may be dwindling — even among his one time loyalists.
“He can’t get out of his own way,” a prominent New York Republican told The Post this week. “His self-indulgence is political malpractice.”
The GOP bigwig added that while Trump largely stayed out of the recent Empire State gubernatorial race between Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican Lee Zeldin, the former president’s influence was still felt.
“When the abortion attack didn’t work, Hochul hit Zeldin hard on Trump,” the person said. “It was a clear shot. It could have cost him the election.”
Despite Trump repeatedly trashing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in recent days, some close to the ex-president are trying to convince him to name him his 2024 running mate. AP
While DeSantis declined to address his own potential 2024 run during his successful reelection campaign, the New York Republican made clear that the Florida governor has higher office in mind.
“DeSantis is running,” the GOPer said. “He’s talking to donors in New York. He has good friends here. He’s been up to the Hamptons [for fundraisers].”
Another non-Trump option for 2024, the source added, could be Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — who is seen as having more charisma than DeSantis and was also ripped by Trump in a series of bizarre posts on Truth Social Friday morning.
The opprobrium from fellow Republicans has further rankled the former commander-in-chief, according to another source.
“No one cared if Tom Brady won the Super Bowl by a field goal or two touchdowns. On Tuesday we won the Super Bowl,” the source said. “We won the House by a lot and I firmly believe we will win the Senate.”
The source went on to call the rumblings of discontent “political noise” and “manufactured.”
“Ninety percent of the pickups were Trump candidates,” the person went on. “Go down the line.”
Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant, told The Post the former president was “disappointed” DeSantis could launch a bid for the White House – since Trump believes he helped the rising GOP star climb the ranks.
“Ron used Trump’s endorsement extensively. Trump is disappointed. There’s such a thing as loyalty,” Stone said. “It would be an act of treachery and betrayal if Ron runs against Trump.”
Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer and personal friend, concurred with Stone – insisting any potential GOP rival should be wary.
“Donald has an appeal that is overwhelming,” said Giuliani, describing Trump as the most charismatic and appealing Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan.
“If he runs, it will be a fight to the death with the Democrats,” said Giuliani. “Also, if Trump doesn’t run, DeSantis will be attacked by the Democrats the way they attack Trump. Ron has to be aware of that.”
Reps for DeSantis and Trump did not immediately return requests for comment.
The Issue: Former President Donald Trump’s role in the Republican midterm loss and the party’s next move.
Every time former President Donald Trump opened his mouth, another group of Democrats ran to the polls (“Toxic Trump is ballot poison,” John Podhoretz, Nov. 10).
Without his rants, I believe many Democrats would have stayed home. Same for independents.
Peter C. Welch Carmel
The clearest message from this week’s election results is that it’s time for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to lead the Republican Party.
He can not only bring aboard any disaffected MAGA Republicans, but also can attract back those that Donald Trump turned off — as well as appeal to all those craving freshness on the national level of politics.
Ian Keogh Toronto, Canada
Stop piling on The Donald, New York Post! He is not to blame for the Red Wave that wasn’t.
Have you considered that blame lies with those who voted for seriously flawed non-Trump candidates like John Fetterman in Pennsylvania? The man needs a computer to process language.
Or what about Gov. Kathy Hochul, who remains in denial on New York’s rampant crime problem?
Both are in the grips of Democrat Derangement Syndrome, which induces automatic support for anything donkey-backed.
Like the rest of us, Trump has his foibles, notably abrasiveness. But with no experience, he proved the best chief executive since Ronald Reagan. Et tu, Brute?
S. Silver New York
It was very unfair of The Post to turn against our former president and to show a headline saying “Toxic Trump.”
The picture of him on a wall with a headline that says he couldn’t build it ignores the fact that he was sued and delayed every step of the way by the Democrats.
Despite Democrat lawsuits, it was almost finished when Joe Biden became president, and it was Biden’s choice not to finish it and to flood America with illegal immigrants.
Why not put the blame where it belongs: on the corruption of the Democrats and the left-wing media? Why not show some appreciation for Trump’s tireless campaigning for people who, given the chance, might have saved our country?
Gamaliel Isaac New York
It appears that the key to Georgia GOP Senate hopeful Herschel Walker’s bid against incumbent Raphael Warnock would be to keep Donald Trump’s name, and him personally, away from the campaign.
Trump has become toxic and a liability to all around him with his incessant carrying on over a “stolen election.” It is time for him to put this notion to rest, forget about his ego and do everything possible for the Republicans to win control of the Senate. Everything else is meaningless.
If anything, let Gov. Ron DeSantis go to Georgia to campaign for Walker. But by all means, Trump (given his deep toxicity) must stay away.
Alan Brooks Brooklyn
The losses on Tuesday had nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with the Dobbs abortion decision and abortion referenda.
With all the 2020 issues, no one seriously considered the impact of Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett on the vote totals.
Now, after exit polls showed that abortion nearly tied inflation among Pennsylvania voters and that they were willing to vote for a candidate like John Fetterman over it, we have to acknowledge that Trump’s last Supreme Court appointment probably blew up GOP midterm hopes as well.
Joanne Zervos New York
As Republican voters scramble to place blame for the Red Wave that became a Red Puddle, let’s not lose perspective on what Trump has communicated since day one: the GOP establishment’s inability to pick good candidates and follow through. From McCarthy to McConnell the GOP is in tatters. What a shame.
The face of a mini-Red Wave in New York on Election Day says it’s time for the Republican Party to ditch former President Donald Trump and back another candidate for the White House in 2024.
“I would certainly like to see the party move forward. There are a lot of rising stars,” congressman-elect Mike Lawler — who rocked the political world by defeating Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, told The Post Thursday.
“Gov. Ron DeSantis has energized voters in the state of Florida. It’s always good to have new voices,” added Lawler, an assemblyman who will represent the Hudson Valley’s 17th District in congress.
The GOP in New York picked up four House seats, including NY-17, increasing from 7 to 11 and that is being credited with potentially giving Republicans the margin to narrowly regain the House majority.
A former executive director of the state Republican Party, Lawler’s abandonment of Trump in his native New York is sure to raise eyebrows as GOP officials and voters nationally debate whether it’s better to have a fresh face at the top of the ticket in 2024 or Trump, a polarizing figure who has a large devoted following.
Republican Congressman-elect Mike Lawler said he would like to see the party “move forward” from former President Donald Trump.Douglas HealeyLawler’s comments come ahead of Trump’s “very big announcement” next week that is expected to be about running in 2024.Ron Sachs – CNP / MEGA
Lawler’s comments come as Trump is being advised to delay next week’s much-hyped “very big announcement” — during which is he expected to kickoff a White House run for the third straight cycle.
“I’ll be advising him that he move his announcement until after the Georgia [Senate] runoff [Dec. 6],” former Trump adviser Jason Miller said. “Georgia needs to be the focus of every Republican in the country right now.”
Kayleigh McEnany, a former White House press secretary in the Trump administration, also said on Fox News the former president should put his announcement on “pause” until Georgia is sorted out.
Lawler flipped the Hudson Valley seat to Republican after defeating Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.Douglas Healey
Trump’s onetime lawyer and personal friend Rudy Giuliani told The Post Thursday he had urged the former president not to announce another White House bid until after midterms, but insisted that Trump has what it takes to win again — and was the most charismatic and appealing GOP candidate since Ronald Reagan.
Obviously, a win is a win, and Gov. Hochul deserves New Yorkers’ goodwill as she prepares to begin her own full term in office. But look closely at the New York City results. GOP candidate Lee Zeldin did astoundingly well, and that’s with all his MAGA baggage. It’s a lesson for Hochul: She’d best heed what moderate swing voters told her Tuesday night on crime control and job growth.
With 97% of the vote in, Zeldin did what few people thought was possible a few months ago and came quite close to doing what a Republican state candidate needs to do to win statewide: e.g., winning 35% of the local vote.
Zeldin took 30% of the Gotham vote — 514,175 votes, to be exact, compared with Hochul’s 70% (1,180,993 votes).
No one would argue that Hochul didn’t landslide New York City, as per usual in a city with a seven-to-one ratio of registered Democrats vs. Republicans.
But Zeldin’s 30% vote share was twice that of the Republican candidate’s share four years ago. In 2018, GOP candidate Marc Molinaro got just 15% of the city’s vote, 318,000 ballots.
This election, Zeldin beat his predecessor candidate’s total vote count by 62%. And in a lower-turnout race, Zeldin doubled the share of the vote.
Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrates her victory over Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin in the New York State gubernatorial race on Tuesday, November 8.James Keivom
Where? Well, everywhere. On Staten Island, the city’s most conservative borough, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo eked out a tiny victory four years ago, 49 to 48. This time around, Zeldin won a double-digit margin, 67 to 33.
That may be expected, with Staten Island voters not as put off by President Donald Trump and his antics as the rest of the city is.
But in Brooklyn four years ago, Cuomo won 81 to 13 (third parties won the rest). This year, Zeldin earned a full 29% of the vote, to Hochul’s 71%.
In Queens in 2018, Cuomo won 78 to 18. This year, Zeldin garnered a full third of the vote, to Hochul’s two-thirds.
Supporters gather during an election night event for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin.Matthew McDermott
Even in The Bronx and Manhattan, Zeldin did relatively well. Four years ago, Molinaro earned just 8% and 10% of these respective borough’s votes. This year, Zeldin won 22% and 18% respectively.
It’s worth repeating: For a Republican to win nearly a quarter of the Bronx vote is a big deal. It’s not a big enough deal, of course. That and $6 will get Zeldin a latte this morning.
But Zeldin proved something important: New York City is what makes New York a one-party state, but even the Democratic city has its limits.
A member of the crowd holds up a sign supporting Zeldin for governor.Matthew McDermott
Faced with far higher post-pandemic crime rates and a slow jobs recovery — Gotham is still missing 2% of its pre-pandemic jobs, while the country as a whole has recovered — some New York City Democrats will show their frustration at the voting booth.
Some city people who hate Trump and are angry at the Supreme Court’s abortion and gun-control decisions filled in the Republican bubble on their ballots anyway.
Actually, quite a lot of people did.
Statewide, too, the Legislature looks to have lost a couple Democratic members because of its moves, in recent years, toward the far left. Hochul ought to heed this sign, as she faces tremendous pressure from the left to double down on cashless bail and tax hikes.
Progressives will argue that they owe her: The left-wing Working Families party accounted for 11% of her vote this year, compared with just 4% of Cuomo’s in 2018. But Hochul wouldn’t have needed the far left had she kept the center.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, his running mate Alison Esposito and their families thank their supporters during election night.Paul Martinka
Statewide, Hochul’s margin of victory over Zeldin was 53 to 47. Had Zeldin won another 5% of the city vote, he would have cut Hochul’s victory to 51%, far too close for comfort.
And presumably, such a GOP margin in New York City would bode poorly for the Democratic candidate in the rest of the state, too. This year, Zeldin easily won Long Island, a region Cuomo won four years ago.
So Zeldin sent Hochul a historic, and invaluable, message Tuesday night: Don’t take New York City Democrats for granted. Without clear progress on crime and the economy over the next four years, and with (let’s hope) the memory of Trump fading, New York remains in play, for the first time in more than a generation.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal.
The increasingly tight race between Gov. Kathy Hochul and challenger Lee Zeldin has most New York voters focused on the top of the ticket — but they could also play a key role in deciding the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Nine of the races in New York’s 26 congressional districts are described as competitive by…
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