Hochul to Zeldin on crime: 'I don't know why that's so important to you'

Jack Birle

October 25, 10:50 PM October 25, 10:50 PM

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) appeared upset over Rep. Lee Zeldin's (R-NY) focus on crime during the New York gubernatorial debate Tuesday.

Zeldin, who is a U.S. congressman, reiterated his belief there is a crime emergency in the Empire State and pressed Hochul on locking up criminals.

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"My opponent thinks that right now, there’s a polio emergency going on, but there’s not a crime emergency. Different priorities that I’m hearing from people right now, that are not being represented from this. This governor, who still to this moment, we’re out why we’re? Halfway through the debate, she still hasn’t, talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes," Zeldin said.

The governor shot back at Zeldin's assertion on crime, while also questioning his insistence on the topic.

"Anyone who commits a crime under our laws, especially with the change we made to bail, has consequences. I don't know why that's so important to you," Hochul said. "All I know is that we can do more."

Hochul focused her crime approach response on gun laws as opposed to Zeldin's calls for changes to bail laws and the removal of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The New York gubernatorial race has shifted from a "likely Democratic" rating as recently as the beginning of this month to a "toss up" rating, per RealClearPolitics.