US Midterms: Zeldin to Debate Hochul for NY Governor's Race

Facts

• On Sunday, Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin agreed to a debate with incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The two will face off on Tuesday.
• Zeldin has called Hochul a "coward" for refusing to "accept a series of debates on broadcast and across various media markets in New York," adding that she only accepted this one because it's "a month after absentee ballots started going out."
• Zeldin's acceptance comes after previously declining the debate in protest, prompting the Hochul campaign to issue a statement saying, "After months of hiding, Congressman Zeldin has finally agreed to participate in Tuesday's debate," and accusing Zeldin of "dangerous lies."
• Gov. Hochul also referenced the priorities of her governance duties asserting, "...I’m still running the state of New York government. I don’t have time to stand on a street corner screaming into the wind."
• The debate comes as Rep. Zeldin has gained ground in the polls, with the latest Quinnipiac University poll showing Hochul with a four-point lead, compared to previous polls that had Zeldin trailing by as many as 15 points.

Sources: New York Times, NBC New York, CBS, and Washington Examiner.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by New York Post. Notably, Kathy Hochul wasn't elected to office, and that shows in her political behavior. She has promoted legislation that jeopardizes the safety of New Yorkers daily. Hochul has refused to debate those policies because she knows Zeldin has the high ground, and the polls are reflecting that reality.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by The New York Times. Just because Lee Zeldin has clamored for multiple debates on his terms doesn't make his requests reasonable. Kathy Hochul has been busy fighting the pandemic, restricting access to illegal guns, and strengthening social policies for working families. She will defend herself during Tuesday's debate, but her record and busy schedule speak for themselves.