Election 2022: Hochul's first hurdle on quest for historic win is challenge from Democratic wings

kAmyFDE @G6C 2 J62C 28@[ 7@C>6C v@G] p?5C6H |] rF@>@ D2E 2E@A 9:D A2CEJ 2D F?5:DAFE65 <:?8[ >:4C@>2?28:?8 DE2E6 A@=:E:4D 2?5 AC6A2C:?8 E@ CF? 7@C 2 7@FCE9 E6C>]k^Am

kAmqFE 9:D C6D:8?2E:@? 2?5 72== 7C@> 8C246 `_ >@?E9D 28@ 92D 492?865 A2CEJ 5J?2>:4D 2D H6== 2D }6H *@C<VD A@=:E:42= =2?5D42A6] %96 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C 96 @?46 AC24E:42==J :8?@C65 – z2E9J w@49F= – ?@H H:6=5D E96 =6G6CD @7 A@H6C :? E96 r2A:E@= 2?5 E9C@F89@FE E96 A2CEJ 2D 9:D DF446DD@C] k^Am

kAm$E:==[ w@49F= 7246D EH@ >@C6 9FC5=6D E@ >2<6 9:DE@CJ 2D E96 7:CDE H@>2? 6=64E65 8@G6C?@C @7 }6H *@C<i E96 AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@? @? %F6D52J 7@==@H65 3J E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? }@G] b] p A2:C @7 s6>@4C2ED – #6A] %9@>2D #] $F@KK: @7 }2DD2F r@F?EJ 2?5 }6H *@C< r:EJ !F3=:4 p5G@42E6 yF>22?6 s] (:==:2>D – @? %F6D52J =@@< E@ DE2>A E96:C @H? :56?E:EJ @? E96 A2CEJ 2?5 DE2E6 A@=:E:4D] $F@KK: 4=2:>D E@ C6AC6D6?E >@56C2E6 s6>@4C2ED 7C@> FADE2E6 2?5 :? }6H *@C< r:EJVD @FE6C 3@C@F89D 2?5 DF3FC3D[ H9:=6 (:==:2>D D66<D E96 |2?92EE2? 2?5 qC@@<=J? =:36C2=D H9@ AC@A6==65 9:> E@ E96 4:EJH:56 @77:46 @7 AF3=:4 25G@42E6]k^Am

kAmw@49F= 2AA62CD E@ 36 :? 2 4@>>2?5:?8 A@D:E:@? :? E96 C246[ H:E9 E96 76H C646?E A@==D D9@H:?8 96C H:E9 =625D @7 >@C6 E92? b_ A6C46?E286 A@:?ED]k^Am

kAmp?5 E@ 962C }6H *@C< s6>@4C2E:4 4@?DF=E2?E tG2? $E2G:D<J E6== :E[ E96 2AA2C6?E =@@>:?8 =2?5D=:56 :D ?@ 244:56?E] w6 ?@E65 E92E :?4F>36?E }6H *@C< 8@G6C?@CD 2=>@DE ?6G6C =@D6[ :?DE625 H:6=5:?8 E96 G2DE A@H6CD @7 E96 @77:46 E@ C2:D6 9F86 DF>D @7 >@?6J 2?5 A@D:E:@? E96>D6=G6D 7@C C6\6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm%92E’D ;FDE H92E w@49F= 5:5] $E2E6 q@2C5 @7 t=64E:@?D C6A@CED D9@H E92E 36EH66? y2?F2CJ 2?5 |2J[ w@49F= DA6?E S`b]` >:==:@? @? 96C 42>A2:8? – 2=>@DE EH:46 2D >F49 2D 96C AC:>2CJ C:G2=D 4@>3:?65] (92E’D >@C6[ D96 DE:== 925 S`g]d >:==:@? E@ DA6?5[ H9:49 :D 23@FE D:I 2?5 2 92=7 E:>6D 2D >F49 2D 96C s6>@4C2E:4 @AA@?6?ED 925]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ D96 D6H65 FA E96 DFAA@CE @7 >@DE =625:?8 s6>@4C2E:4 @77:4:2=D :? E96 DE2E6[ 2D H6== 2D >2?J E@A =23@C F?:@?D] u24:?8 D<6AE:4D H9@ >FD65 E92E 2? FADE2E6 A@=:E:4:2? =:<6 w@49F= 4@F=5 ?6G6C H286 2 E@A\?@E49 C246 7@C 8@G6C?@C[ D96 AC@G65 E96> HC@?8]k^Am

kAm“z2E9J w@49F= DA6?E J62CD 2D =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C[ 3F:=5:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD :? 6G6CJ 4@C?6C @7 E96 DE2E6[ H@C<:?8 2D 92C5 :7 ?@E 92C56C E92? 2?J3@5J 6=D6 :? DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E[ E@ 36 AC6A2C65 @? E96 :DDF6D 2?5 E@ 36 C625J E@ 2DDF>6 H92E6G6C C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D D96 925 E@[” $E2G:D<J D2:5] “!6@A=6 H9@ F?56C6DE:>2E65 96C AC@323=J 5:5?VE <?@H 96C]”k^Am

kAmw@49F= 92D 2=D@ AC@G65 E@ 36 256AE 2E 492?8:?8 >:?5D] ~?=J 7@FC J62CD 28@[ E96 }6H *@C< %:>6D 6?5@CD65 (:==:2>D @G6C 96C :? E96 C246 7@C =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C] “x? 96C >@C6 E92? E9C66 J62CD :? @77:46[ |D] w@49F= 92D D6CG65 2D =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 2? 649@ 7@C v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@[” E96 %:>6D 65:E@C:2= 3@2C5 D2:5 2E E96 E:>6]k^Am

kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 7@FC J62CD[ 2?5 E96 %:>6D 65:E@C:2= 3@2C5 324<65 w@49F= 7@C 8@G6C?@C @G6C (:==:2>D 2?5 $F@KK:[ AC2:D:?8 96C :? 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E E@?6]k^Am

kAm“x? 96C 7:CDE >@?E9D :? @77:46[ |D] w@49F= 82G6 E96 DE2E6 6I24E=J H92E :E ?66565i 2 4@>A6E6?E[ DE625J 92?5 H9@ AFE E96 :?E6C6DED @7 E96 AF3=:4 7:CDE[” E96 %:>6D 65:E@C:2= 3@2C5 HC@E6]k^Am

kAms6DA:E6 96C =@?8 A@=:E:42= 42C66C 368:??:?8 H:E9 w2>3FC8 %@H? r@F?4:=[ E96? 4@F?EJ 4=6C<[ >6>36C @7 r@?8C6DD 2?5 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C[ w@49F=[ eb[ H2D ?6G6C G:6H65 2D 2 G:23=6 DE2E6H:56 42?5:52E6 :? 96C @H? C:89E] $96 H2D[ 27E6C 2==[ ?@E 7C@> 5@H?DE2E6[ 2?5 H2D ?6G6C 25>:EE65 E@ rF@>@VD :??6C 4:C4=6 2D =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C] rF@>@VD A@=:E:42= @A6C2E:@? F?DF446DD7F==J EC:65 E@ C6A=246 96C @? E96 E:4<6E :? 62C=J a_`g]k^Am

kAmqFE 2D D64@?5\:?\4@>>2?5 2?5 E96? 27E6C 96C F?6IA64E65 C:D6 E@ E96 8@G6C?@CVD @77:46[ w@49F= 92D C6=:65 @? 564256D @7 6IA6C:6?46 :? E96 s6>@4C2E:4 EC6?496D] $96 4@?46?EC2E65 @? }6H *@C< r:EJ W2?5 :ED >:==:@?D @7 G@E6CDX H96C6 D96 H2D =62DE <?@H?[ H@? 2 DE2E6H:56 AC:>2CJ 7@C =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C 282:?DE (:==:2>D :? a_`g 2?5 >@CA965 :?E@ 2 AC@5:8:@FD 7F?5C2:D6C]k^Am

kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ D96 CF?D @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE DE2E6D :? E96 ?2E:@?] %9:D J62C D96 6?8:?66C65 2 Saa` 3:==:@? 3F586E E92E C65F465 >:55=6\4=2DD E2I6D H9:=6 :?4C62D:?8 DA6?5:?8 7@C 8F? G:@=6?46 AC6G6?E:@?[ 962=E9 42C6 2?5 9@DA:E2=D[ 9:<6D D49@@= 2:5 2?5 AC@G:56D 7@C 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 3@?5 24E]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96?[ E96 {68:D=2EFC6 A2DD65 2? ``\A@:?E AC@8C2> E@ 4@>32E 8F? G:@=6?46] $96 92D EC2G6=65 E96 DE2E6 5:DA6?D:?8 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D 7@C =@42= AC@;64ED =:<6 6DE23=:D9:?8 2? p7C:42?\p>6C:42? w6C:E286 r@CC:5@C :? qF772=@[ C6F?:E:?8 ?6:893@C9@@5D :? qF772=@ 3J A2CE:2==J 4@G6C:?8 E96 z6?D:?8E@? tIAC6DDH2J[ C6DE@C:?8 E96 r6?EC2= 2?5 s{U2>Aj( E6C>:?2=D 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 =2?5>2C<D =:<6 z=6:?92?D |FD:4 w2==] p== @7 E96 AC@;64ED :==FDEC2E6 E96 25G2?E286D @7 :?4F>36?4J]k^Am

kAmw@49F= 6>A92D:K6D D64FC:?8 E96 562= 7@C 2 ?6H qF772=@ q:==D DE25:F> 2?5 :ED Se__ >:==:@? DE2E6 4@?EC:3FE:@?[ 6G6? :7 A@==D D9@H =:EE=6 6?E9FD:2D> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 2?5 96C @AA@?6?ED A:=6 @? H:E9 4C:E:4:D>]k^Am

kAmQ%9:D :D E96 562=i E96 qF772=@ q:==D 2C6 96C6 E@ DE2J[Q D96 D2:5 2 76H 52JD 28@] Qw:DE@CJ H:== ;F586 FD @? E92E]k^Am

kAmQx 567:?:E6=J H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 x 2> E96 8@G6C?@C H9@ <6AE E96 q:==D :? E96 DE2E6[Q D96 25565[ Q2?5 ?@E E96 8@G6C?@C H9@ =@DE E96>]Qk^Am

kAm%96 C6DF=E:?8 E9C66\H2J 4@?E6DE 4@F=5 92G6 364@>6 2 7C66\7@C\2== >:?FD rF@>@VD :C@? 8C:A @? E96 A2CEJ] qFE w@49F= 92D 5@>:?2E65 H:E9 DFAA@CE 7C@> @=5 rF@>@ =@J2=:DED =:<6 DE2E6 r92:C>2? y2J $] y24@3D[ 82:?65 @G6CH96=>:?8 2AAC@G2= 2E E96 s6>@4C2E:4 $E2E6 r@?G6?E:@?[ 2?5 62C?65 E96 C6DA64E @7 E96 @?46\D<6AE:42= }6H *@C< r:EJ A@H6C DECF4EFC6]k^Am

kAmQx 92G6 2 D6?D6 @7 C6D:=:6?4J 2?5 E@F89?6DD E@ DFCG:G6[Q D96 D2JD] QxEVD >256 >6 E@F89 6?@F89 E92? 2?J@?6 6IA64E65 7@C 2 H@>2? 7C@> FADE2E6 E@ >2?286 DF49 2 4@>A=:42E65 DE2E6]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$F@KK: 9@F?5D q:==D 562= :? F?56C5@8 42>A2:8?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm$F@KK:[ dh[ >@F?ED 9:D D64@?5 AC:>2CJ 42>A2:8? 7@C 8@G6C?@C 27E6C =@D:?8 564:D:G6=J E@ t=:@E {] $A:EK6C :? a__e] s6DA:E6 9:D F?56C5@8 DE2EFD[ 96 H:== 7@C76:E 9:D D62E :? r@?8C6DD 27E6C 7@FC E6C>D E@ 492==6?86 E96 36EE6C <?@H? 2?5 36EE6C 7:?2?465 w@49F=] $F@KK: H2DE6D ?@ E:>6 4C:E:4:K:?8 w@49F=VD Se__ >:==:@? DE2E6 4@?EC:3FE:@? E@ E96 ?6H q:==D DE25:F>[ 96C =2E6 2?5 H92E 96 42==D :?256BF2E6 C6DA@?D6 E@ E:89E6?:?8 E96 DE2E6VD ?6H 32:= C67@C> =2HD[ 2?5 >2<6D C6DA@?5:?8 E@ C:D:?8 4C:>6 9:D E@A AC:@C:EJ]k^Am

kAmp?5 =:<6 ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ @E96C 492==6?86C[ $F@KK: 4@?E:?F2==J C642==D w@49F=VD QpQ C2E:?8 3J E96 }2E:@?2= #:7=6 pDD@4:2E:@? 2 564256 28@ H9:=6 C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 DE2E6VD >@DE #6AF3=:42? 5:DEC:4E :? r@?8C6DD] k^Am

kAmw6 4@?E:?F2==J 42==D 9:>D6=7 2 Q4@>>@? D6?D6 s6>@4C2E[Q 2?5 6G6? :?G@<6D #6AF3=:42? E96>6D 23@FE E96 DE2E6VD 9:89 E2I6D 2?5 =@DD @7 A@AF=2E:@?] xE 2== 2>@F?ED E@ 82>3=:?8 E92E s6>@4C2E:4 G@E6CD H:== 6>3C246 @?6 @7 E96:C @H?[ H:E9 E@A C2E:?8D @? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :DDF6D 2?5 23@CE:@? C:89ED[ 3FE H9@ =@@<D E@ C6:? :? DA6?5:?8 2?5 =@H6C E2I6D]k^Am

kAmQ%96J 2C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE 4C:>6[ E2I6D[ 277@C523:=:EJ[ 2?5 <:5D =67E 369:?5 :? EC@F3=65 D49@@=D 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D[Q 96 D2JD :? 2 DF>>2CJ @7 9:D 42>A2:8?]k^Am

kAm%9@F89 $F@KK: =@DE 9:D 3:5 7@C 2 E9:C5 E6C> 2D }2DD2F r@F?EJ 6I64FE:G6 :? a__h 2?5 2 C6>2E49 282:?DE #6AF3=:42? t5 |2?82?@ :? a_`b[ 96 4:E6D 9:D 6I64FE:G6 6IA6C:6?46 2D >2J@C 2?5 9625 @7 2 DAC2H=:?8 4@F?EJ 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am

kAmQx <?@H 9@H E@ CF? 2 8@G6C?>6?E] x <?@H 9@H E@ 86E E9:?8D 5@?6[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? |2J[ $F@KK: D=2E65 2 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 :? qF772=@VD ~=5 u:CDE (2C5 W@?46 2 A@E6?E:2= D:E6 7@C 2 ?6H DE25:F>X E@ 56?@F?46 w@49F=VD 562= H:E9 E96 q:==D[ H9:49 96 =236=D Q92=7\32<65Q 2?5 C6G62=65 ;FDE 7@FC 52JD 367@C6 E96 DE2E6 3F586E 5625=:?6] w6 24<?@H=6586D E96 5:77:4F=EJ @7 4C:E:4:K:?8[ 6DA64:2==J H9:=6 42>A2:8?:?8 :? E96 962CE @7 q:==D 4@F?ECJ[ 2? 28C66>6?E E96 8@G6C?@C 4=2:>D H2D ?646DD2CJ E@ <66A E96 E62> :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<] p ?6H DE25:F> :D ?66565[ $F@KK: D2JD[ 3FE D@ :D 2 36EE6C 562=]k^Am

kAmQx H@F=5 C2E96C :E 36 :? 5@H?E@H? qF772=@[Q 96 D2:5] Q{@@< 2E ~C492C5 !2C<] %96C6VD ?@ 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 2C@F?5 :E]Qk^Am

kAmp?5 w@49F=VD 4=2:> E96 q:==D H@F=5 =62G6 H:E9@FE E96 562= D96 4C27E65nk^Am

kAmQx7 E96J H6C6 E@ =62G6 E96J H@F=5 92G6 E@ A2J 2 9F86 A6?2=EJ E@ E96 }u{[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96C6 H2D ?@ H2J E96J H6C6 =62G:?8]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(:==:2>D E@FED A=2? E@ 4@>32E 8F? G:@=6?46k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmx7 $F@KK: G@:46D @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 DE25:F> 562=[ E96? (:==:2>D @776CD 2? 6G6? =@F56C – E9@F89 5:776C6?E – C6DA@?D6] w6 C67=64ED >F49 @7 }6H *@C< r:EJVD =67E\=62?:?8 32D6[ :D E96 ?@>:?66 @7 E96 (@C<:?8 u2>:=:6D !2CEJ[ 2?5 4@>A=2:?D E92E H9:=6 ?@3@5J A2JD 2EE6?E:@? E@ 9:D S` 3:==:@? A=2? E@ 4@>32E 8F? G:@=6?46[ E96 DE2E6 DFAA=:6D 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD E@ E96 3:==:@?2:C6 @H?6CD @7 E96 q:==D]k^Am

kAm(:==:2>D[ ce[ A@:?ED E@ A@@C ?6:893@C9@@5D DF49 2D H96C6 E96 %@AD D9@@E:?8 4=2:>65 `_ =:G6D :? qF772=@ @? |2J `c[ 4@>A2C6D :E E@ E96 DE2E6 5@==2CD 7=@H:?8 E@ E96 3:==:@?2:C6 @H?6CD @7 2? ~C492C5 !2C< E62>[ 2?5 AC@?@F?46D 2 QAC@3=6>]Qk^Am

kAmQtG6CJ 64@?@>:DE H:== D2J :E H:== ?@E 3C:?8 324< 2 C6EFC?[Q 96 D2:5] Q(92E :7 E96 r:EJ @7 qF772=@ D2:5 VH6 ?665 2?@E96C 3:==:@?nV qFE H6 42? 8:G6 2== E92E E@ 2 3:==:@?2:C6]Qk^Am

kAm{:<6 ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ @E96C 42?5:52E6[ (:==:2>D =236=D AF3=:4 D276EJ E96 QE@A A:==2CQ @7 9:D 42>A2:8?] qFE :? E96 5632E6 @G6C E96 32:= C67@C> D@F89E 3J =:36C2= 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 A2CEJ[ (:==:2>D E9:?<D AC@A@D2=D 7@C ;F586D E@ 4@?D:56C Q52?86C@FD?6DDQ H96? 4@?D:56C:?8 32:= QD6?D2E:@?2=:K6DQ E96 D:EF2E:@?]k^Am

kAmx? DE2E6D E92E FD6 52?86C@FD?6DD 2D 2 32:= 4@?D:56C2E:@?[ 96 D2JD[ G:@=6?46 92D :?4C62D65] Q(9J 5@?VE 4@FCED >@G6 72DE6C @? E96D6 42D6DnQ 96 2D<D]k^Am

kAm(:==:2>D H2?ED >@C6 E92? w@49F=VD A=2? E@ 4@>32E 8F? G:@=6?46[ ?@E:?8 >:4C@\DE2>A:?8 3F==6ED 92D 6?4@F?E6C65 AC@3=6>D 6=D6H96C6 2?5 E96 32? @? 3@5J 2C>@C H@F=5 92G6 6I4=F565 E96 %@AD D9@@E6CVD A2C2A96C?2=:2] w6 42==D :?DE625 7@C :?G6DE>6?ED :? >6?E2= 962=E9 D6CG:46D[ =682= D6CG:46D[ ;@3 EC2:?:?8 2?5 Q24EF2= ;@3DQ 96 4=2:>D 92G6 H@C<65 :? }6H *@C< r:EJ]k^Am

kAmQx7 H6 D6?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ H9J ?@E D6?5 @E96C :?G6DE>6?EDnQ 96 2D<D] Q*@FVC6 ?@E 255C6DD:?8 :DDF6D E92E <:== q=24< 2?5 3C@H? A6@A=6 @? 2 52:=J 32D:D]Qk^Am

kAmp?5 H9:=6 w@49F= 3@2DED @7 =@H6C:?8 E2I6D 2?5 $F@KK: D66<D 6G6? >@C6 C65F4E:@?D[ (:==:2>D 4@>A=2:?D E92E 76H :? p=32?J 6G6? 4@?D:56C QC2:D:?8 C6G6?F6D[Q 6DA64:2==J 7C@> 3:==:@?2:C6D]k^Am

kAmQ(6 92G6 E@ 2D< E96> E@ 5@ E96:C 4:G:4 5FEJ[Q 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmx? C646?E J62CD[ (:==:2>D 92D 3FCDE @?E@ E96 DE2E6H:56 A@=:E:42= D46?6[ 56DA:E6 =:G:?8 H:E9 %@FC6EE6 DJ?5C@>6] w6 5@6D ?@E 3FJ w@49F=VD 4@?E6?E:@? E92E D96 H2D D9FE @FE @7 rF@>@VD :??6C 4:C4=6 2?5 H2D F?2H2C6 @7 >2?J @7 E96 4@>A=2:?ED 6G6?EF2==J =@5865 282:?DE 9:>]k^Am

kAmQ$96 E2<6D 4C65:E 7@C E96 8@@5 E9:?8D 3FE E2<6D ?@ 244@F?E23:=:EJ 7@C E96 E9:?8D 8@?6 HC@?8[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am