Zeldin calls Hochul ‘coward’ for refusing more than one debate

Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, blasted Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday for declining to debate him more than once in the state’s gubernatorial race.

“Kathy Hochul says the choice is zero debates or one debate,” Zeldin said at a news conference, according to the New York Post.

“It’s because Kathy Hochul is a coward. Let’s be honest. It’s because she’s scared to debate.”

The outgoing Long Island congressman is referring to how Hochul responded to his proposal for five debates with an ultimatum in late September – she agreed to one debate but only if it was held at Pace University, a private university in New York City, hosted by Spectrum News before early voting began on Oct. 29.

The two are now scheduled to debate on Oct. 25.

At another press conference on Monday, Zeldin spoke of how he and his opponent had both been in the PIX11 TV studio in Manhattan that day for separate interviews.

“We should have been standing there next to each other and instead she didn’t have time to stand there next to me – but she did have time to stand there by herself,” he told reporters.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Zeldin on Monday, calling him a “brilliant lawyer” and strong on crime. Hochul responded with an attack ad emphasizing their relationship.

“Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded. Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

A Quinnipiac University poll on Tuesday found that Hochul only held a narrow lead over Zeldin, with 50% to the Republican’s 46% - a stunning comeback in the blue state. A poll as recent as August showed Zeldin down 24 points to the incumbent governor, according to the New York Post.