{"id":2390314,"date":"2025-01-14T18:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T23:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hochul-sets-up-reelection-bid-with-focus-on-democrats-weaknesses-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-14T18:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T23:05:29","slug":"hochul-sets-up-reelection-bid-with-focus-on-democrats-weaknesses-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hochul-sets-up-reelection-bid-with-focus-on-democrats-weaknesses-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Hochul sets up reelection bid with focus on Democrats\u2019 weaknesses &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhochul-sets-up-reelection-bid-with-focus-on-democrats-weaknesses-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2390314&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor Kathy Hochul of New York delivered her State of teh State address, focusing on key issues as she prepares for\u200c her 2026 reelection campaign.With a current approval rating of 39%, she is\u200b expected \u2062to face\u200b competition from both \u200cDemocrats and Republicans. Hochul emphasized the importance of\u2063 addressing \u200cthe rising cost \u200bof living\u2064 and combating crime.<\/p>\n<p>During her address, \u2062Hochul highlighted economic concerns, proposing measures such as a &#8220;middle-class income \u200ctax \u200ccut&#8221; to benefit \u20628.3 million taxpayers, expanding the \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/child-tax-credit-utah-families-can-receive-1000-for-children-under-4-years-old-in-2024\/\" title=\"Utah families can get ,000 for kids under 4 in 2024 with child tax credit.\">child tax\u200b credit<\/a>, \u200cand offering \u2064inflation refund checks. She also stressed \u2064the need for increased\u2062 housing\u2064 availability to \u2063tackle the\u2063 affordability crisis,calling for the construction of more homes.<\/p>\n<p>regarding crime and homelessness, Hochul announced plans to enhance safety \u200din New York \u200ccity&#8217;s \u2063subway system by deploying police officers on every train overnight for a six-month\u2063 period. She also stated efforts to improve subway infrastructure with better lighting and barriers to deter fare evasion,aiming to create a safer surroundings for commuters. Hochul&#8217;s address outlined her commitment to the citizens of \u200cNew York in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nikki-haley-surges-in-gop-primary-poll\/\" title=\"Nikki Haley&#039;s popularity soars in GOP primary poll.\">addressing critical issues facing<\/a> the state.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hochul sets up reelection bid with focus on Democrats&rsquo; weaknesses<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1934903\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kathy-hochul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kathy Hochul\">Kathy Hochul<\/a> (D-NY) delivered her State of the State address on Tuesday and focused on the cost of living and combating crime as she eyes a reelection bid next year that will likely face challenges from Democrats and Republicans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Hochul, who had an approval rating of 39% in a December Siena College <a href=\"https:\/\/scri.siena.edu\/2024\/12\/10\/hochul-job-approval-favorability-ratings-up-a-little-remain-negative-only-33-of-voters-would-re-elect-hochul-57-want-someone-else\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"poll\">poll<\/a>, plans to run for another term in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"2026\">2026<\/a>, but she could face tough competition from the Republican Party and even foes from within her own party to keep her job.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2024 election, the economy was listed as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-poll-shows-drive-to-recall-gov-newsom-gained-traction-in-past-2-weeks\/\" title=\"New Poll Shows Drive To Recall Gov. Newsom Gained Traction In Past 2 Weeks\">top issue facing<\/a> the country by 39% of voters, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/election-results-2024\/votecast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"according to\">according to<\/a> AP VoteCast, and on Tuesday, Hochul made the cost of living and economic matters a key focus of her annual address from Albany.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My fellow New Yorkers, as we reflect on the state of our great state, the Empire State, two things are very clear to me. Our future depends on the ability of every family to afford the essentials of life and our ability to protect the safety and security of our residents. But we will not achieve these goals without a fight,&rdquo; Hochul said. &ldquo;So my commitment to every New Yorker is this: Your family is my fight. That has been the inspiration and impetus for everything we have done for the last three years.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on cost of living<\/h2>\n<p>The governor outlined efforts she hopes to push to combat rising costs, including a &ldquo;middle-class income tax cut,&rdquo; which she claims would help 8.3 million taxpayers in the state making less than $323,000 annually, expanding the child tax credit, and &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3279949\/kathy-hochul-focus-affordability-instead-trump-resistance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"inflation refund checks\">inflation refund checks<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Empire State governor also outlined a desire to build more homes, hoping to halt increasing housing costs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photo provided by the Office of the New York Governor, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) delivers the 2025 State of the State Address, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Albany, New York. (Mike Groll\/Office of the New York Governor via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Housing is the No. 1 driver of our affordability crisis. And the only way to decrease housing costs is to increase supply. We need to build, and build, and build some more,&rdquo; Hochul said, discussing her programs to build more houses.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The issues of homelessness and crime<\/h2>\n<p>Homelessness and crime were other key matters on which Hochul focused. She outlined efforts aimed at helping homeless people get off the streets by updating involuntary commitment laws, saying, &ldquo;We cannot allow our subway to be a rolling homeless shelter.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The New York governor also centered on the New York City subway, which has made negative national headlines over crimes, when discussing her desire to combat &ldquo;crime and the fear of crime.&rdquo; Hochul announced an effort to put law enforcement on every subway train during the overnight hours for the next six months.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want to see uniformed police on the platforms, but more importantly, we will put an officer on every single train, overnight, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., over the next six months, and the state will support these efforts financially,&rdquo; Hochul said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The physical infrastructure must be made safer as well. At my direction, the MTA will be installing even more barriers in 100 additional stations along with bright LED lighting in every station by the end of this year. And the shameless fare evaders will finally be stopped with modernized gates. This will not only make the subway less chaotic, it will help strengthen the financial footing of the MTA,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Other initiatives Hochul pushed during her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">address included making community college free<\/a> for those ages 25-55 who &ldquo;enter high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, education and healthcare.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So even as we continue to focus on the many New Yorkers who need help, let us resolve today to take on the problems with a heart and soul filled with optimism and a faith in our future,&rdquo; Hochul said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Problems persist for Hochul<\/h2>\n<p>While Hochul offered an optimistic outlook for the future of the Empire State with her speech, the December Siena College poll found that only 33% said they wanted to reelect Hochul and 57% said they wanted someone else to be elected in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Some of Hochul&rsquo;s potential opponents criticized her address, including Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), who has toyed with running for governor but has not announced if he will.<\/p>\n<p>He took aim at Hochul&rsquo;s plan to have law enforcement in subway cars during overnight hours, questioning why she would not also do that for the daytime.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Debrina Kawam was barbarically burned alive not overnight but in the morning. Governor Hochul might have been too busy taking self-congratulatory subway selfies to notice,&rdquo; Torres said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>Torres also knocked Hochul for <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RitchieTorres\/status\/1879257459078152472\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"not mentioning\">not mentioning<\/a> antisemitism, noting recent high rates of antisemitism in New York, and for not failing to &ldquo;even acknowledge the victims of crimes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">New York is the only state that prohibits judges from considering the public safety risk of violent repeat offenders when setting bail. Yet the Governor&rsquo;s State of the State makes no commitment to closing the most dangerous and deadly loophole in the criminal justice system.&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RitchieTorres\/status\/1879276860346867764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No mention of Caleb Rios, a 14-year old stabbed to death by a violent repeat offender. No mention of Ray Hodges, a postal worker stabbed to death by a violent repeat offender. No mention of Joseph Lyndsey, a straphanger shoved in front of an incoming subway car by a violent repeat offender,&rdquo; Torres said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RitchieTorres\/status\/1879276860346867764\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"post\">post<\/a> on X, adding other cases of crime that took place in New York.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The senseless suffering of these victims is the product of a broken system that the Governor refuses to fix,&rdquo; he concluded.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who has also hinted at a run but not announced a bid for governor, slammed Hochul during a press conference with state Republicans ahead of her address in Albany.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She is a feckless and failed governor who needs to be replaced in 2026<em>,<\/em>&rdquo; Lawler said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1934903\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1934903\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hochul launches reelection campaign, targeting key issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2390315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/kathy-hochul-state-of-the-state.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,8433,8313,14946],"class_list":["post-2390314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-hochul","tag-reelection","tag-weaknesses"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/kathy-hochul-state-of-the-state.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2390314"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2390318,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390314\/revisions\/2390318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2390315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2390314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2390314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2390314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}