New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed backmost Friday against Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s proposition that the governor’s weakness astatine the apical of the summons successful the Empire State outgo Democrats the House.
“I’ll archer you this, nary politician successful the past of the authorities of New York has worked harder to elite members of Congress than I have,” Hochul told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We are going to triumph this connected the crushed due to the fact that I cognize however to bash this. I present person the accidental to absorption connected this.”
In an interview with POLITICO on Thursday, Pelosi blamed Hochul’s closer-than-expected triumph successful New York’s 2022 gubernatorial contention for Democrats inability to support their House bulk successful that year’s elections. New York Republicans flipped 4 Democratic-held seats successful those midterms, races wherever critics person suggested that Hochul whitethorn person been a resistance connected down-ballot candidates.
Asked astir that assertion by Pelosi, the politician flatly replied “I don’t hold with that.”
Hochul cited her efforts to statesman raising wealth for New York’s Democratic Party and determination it into section counties, arsenic good arsenic ongoing coordination with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and hundreds of staffers crossed 35 offices.
Pelosi said Thursday that she hadn’t spoken to Hochul astir this year’s races but had consulted with Jeffries arsenic precocious arsenic that morning. She emphasized the value of the “three M’s: mobilization, message, money.”
Hochul acknowledged Friday she tin “laser focus” connected cardinal purple districts — including Hudson Valley, Syracuse, Central New York and Long Island — present that “I’m not a campaigner this twelvemonth myself.”
“We’re going to triumph these races and triumph strong,” she said.