New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday rejected former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s suggestion that the governor’s weakness at the top of the ticket in the Empire State cost Democrats the House.
“I’ll tell you this, no governor in the history of New York State has worked harder to elect members of Congress than I have,” Hochul told MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “We’re going to win this on the field because I know how to do this. Now I have a chance to focus on this.”
In an interview with POLITICO on Thursday, Pelosi blamed Hochul’s closer-than-expected victory in New York’s 2022 gubernatorial race on Democrats’ inability to retain their House majority in that year’s election. New York Republicans flipped four Democratic-held seats in those midterms, races where critics have suggested Hochul may have drawn down-ballot candidates.
When asked about Pelosi’s claim, the governor responded flatly: “I don’t agree.”
Hochul cited efforts to raise money for the New York Democratic Party and distribute it to local counties, as well as ongoing coordination with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.) and hundreds of others. of personnel in 35 offices.
Pelosi said Thursday that she had not spoken to Hochul about this year’s races, but had conferred with Jeffries as recently as that morning. He emphasized the importance of the “three M’s: mobilization, message, money”.
Hochul acknowledged Friday that he can “laser focus” on key purple districts — including the Hudson Valley, Syracuse, Central New York and Long Island — now that “I’m not a candidate myself this year.”
“We’re going to win these races and we’re going to win big,” he said.
