[THEME MUSIC] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF NEW YORK NOW.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD MAJOR WINS IN MIDTERM RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK.

THE PARTY HAS SECURED CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE U.S.

CONGRESS, AS WELL AS MANY STATE AND LOCAL RACES.

POLITICAL AND ELECTION ANALYSTS SAY THAT THE ISSUES OF THE ECONOMY - MAINLY GAS AND GROCERY PRICES - AS WELL AS THE ONGOING IRAN WAR, PROMPTED VOTERS TO REJECT MANY OF THE CANDIDATES ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

NOW ALL EYES ARE ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT BROUGHT VOTERS TO THE POLLS THIS YEAR.

THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS BUT IS NOT AFRAID TO VETO LEGISLATION.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, OUR ELISE KLINE SPOKE WITH VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND THIS BIG WIN FROM DEMOCRATS AND HOW VOTER TURNOUT WAS A KEY FACTOR IN THE ELECTION OUTCOME THIS YEAR.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

>> IN A HISTORIC UPSET, DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE U.S.

CONGRESS AND THE U.S.

SENATE, AND MANY VOTERS ARE HAPPY TO SEE CHANGE.

IN A QUINPIAC POLL LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY, VOTERS FAVORED DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OVER THE GOP BY 11 POINTS.

BUT THE RESULTS WENT FAR BEYOND PROJECTIONS.

IN THE LOWER CONGRESSIONAL CHAMBER, DEMOCRATS ARE ESTIMATED TO HOLD AT LEAST 258 SEATS IN THE U.S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH IS AN 81-SEAT MAJORITY, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS REPORTS INCLUDING CALLED AND UNCALLED RACES THIS YEAR LEADING UP TO AND ON ELECTION DAY, MANY DEMOCRATIC VOTERS SHOWED UP TO THE POLLS IN WAVES, ENERGIZED.

NOW THAT THE RESULTS ARE IN, MANY VOTERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE RECENT VICTORY, FEELING LIKE THERE MAY FINALLY BE CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY COMPLICIT WITH THIS PRESIDENT; THEY'VE BACKED EVERY EVIL THING HE'S DONE.

THEY HAVE COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY ABDICATED THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION AS A CHECK ON THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

THEY HAVE JUST RUBBER-STAMPED, AND THE SUPREME COURT IS THE SAME WAY.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WHEREVER REPUBLICANS ARE, THERE'S GRAFT AND CORRUPTION AND SUPPORT FOR THIS HORRIFIC PRESIDENT THAT WE HAVE.

>> JEFF HAZARD, WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY VOTED DEMOCRAT AND AN ALBANY COUNTY RESIDENT, AGREES AND FEELS DEMOCRATS WILL LEAD THE WAY TO HELPING PEOPLE.

HE SAYS CHANGE IS NEEDED.

>> MAYBE SOME OF HIS CRAZY IDEAS WILL BE TURNED DOWN; CONGRESS WILL SAY NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

AND MAYBE HE'LL BE IMPEACHED.

>> DAVID HAMILTON, AN EARLY VOTER IN ALBANY COUNTY, SAID PRIOR TO THE RESULTS COMING OUT THAT WATCHING THE DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL WOULD ALLOW HIM RELIEF.

>> I WOULD BE MUCH MORE RELAXED ABOUT LIFE, AND I'D BE MUCH HAPPIER ABOUT LIFE.

AND I WOULD NOT DREAD THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS MUCH AS WE SUFFERED THROUGH THE LAST TWO.

>> WHILE DEMOCRATS ARE CELEBRATING, REPUBLICAN VOTERS SAY THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET.

>> JUST MORE OF THE SAME.

JUST THE POINTLESS RHETORIC THAT NEVER CHANGES ANYTHING, DOESN'T APPLY TO THE COMMON WORKING MAN OR WOMAN, DOESN'T APPLY TO THE COMMON FAMILY; IT'S ALL ABOUT FOOFY FOOFY IDEAS INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGE TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE A BETTER LIFE, PROSPER; THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, REGULATIONS ARE STRANGLING SMALL BUSINESSES, PRICING IS OUT OF CONTROL.

>> CONNIE WHITE, A CORTLAND COUNTY VOTER AND CHAIR OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, SAYS SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHANGE IN CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL.

>> WELL, I LOVE AMERICA, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WANT.

I'M NOT SURE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE NATIONAL SCENE I'M A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I SEE WHAT EDUCATION HAS DONE.

IT'S THE YOUNG VOICES WITH NO EXPERIENCE, NO WORK ETHIC, BUT THEY VOTE.

SO I THINK WE'RE IN A PERIOD OF CHANGE, AND I'M NOT HOPEFUL.

>> A BIG PART OF THIS MIDTERM ELECTION PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT RESULTS FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS VOTER TURNOUT.

THIS YEAR, NEARLY 2 MILLION NEW YORKERS SHOWED UP EARLY TO THE POLLS TO CAST THEIR BALLOT, A NEAR DOUBLE INCREASE COMPARED TO THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION IN 2022, WHEN 1.1 MILLION NEW YORKERS VOTED EARLY.

POLL WORKERS SAY THE POLL SITES HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY THROUGH EARLY VOTING, SEEING A VERY NOTICABLE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBERS COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS.

ELLEN SCOTT, A POLL WORKER IN RENSSELAER COUNTY, SAYS IT'S BEEN MUCH BUSIER THAN OTHER YEARS, AVERAGING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PER DAY AND HAVING LINES OUT THE DOOR.

>> SIX OR 700 PEOPLE A DAY.

VERY BIG ON THE FIRST DAY, SATURDAY, AND THEN OVER 600 EVERY OTHER DAY.

>> CHRISTINE PRIMOMO, AN ALBANY COUNTY POLL WORKER, SAYS THAT THEIR EARLY VOTING NUMBERS WERE DRAMATICALLY LARGER THAN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS DURING EARLY VOTING CYCLES.

>> IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST DOUBLE WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

TO DATE, AS OF LAST NIGHT, WE'VE HAD 6,800 VOTERS THROUGH THIS POLLING LOCATION.

SO, AN INCREASE IN TURNOUT, ABSOLUTELY.

>> OTHER EARLY VOTING SITES EXPERIENCED SIMILAR NUMBERS DURING THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, SOME POLL WORKERS SAYING THE TURNOUT WAS LARGER THAN THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

>> I HAD EXPECTED A BIG TURNOUT, BUT NOTHING LIKE IT'S BEEN.

WE'VE HAD LINES IN THE MORNING, BEFORE THE DOORS OPEN, AND PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY LONG FOR THE FIRST FIVE DAYS.

>> EARLY VOTING FOR SOME POLLS IN RENSSELAER AND ALBANY COUNTY SHOWED A RANGE OF 2,100 TO 6,800 VOTERS JUST WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

ON ELECTION DAY, TURNOUT WAS ALSO BUSY ACCORDING TO POLL WORKERS.

>> FOR A MIDTERM ELECTION, I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS SORT OF TURNOUT BEFORE; YOU WOULD THINK IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL SORT OF YEAR.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SINCE 6 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.

WE'VE HAD EBBS AND FLOWS BUT FOR THE MOST PART CONSISTENT.

>> LOCAL OFFICIALS LIKE ALBANY MAYOR DORCEY APPLYRS SAY THE TURNOUT IS A GREAT SIGN FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> I THINK IT JUST SPEAKS TO, NATIONALLY, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP AT THE HELM.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING SO FAR AND SEEING AS IT RELATES TO TURNOUT.

>> SOME POLL WORKERS AND POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY THE REASON THAT VOTER TURNOUT WAS SO MUCH HIGHER THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE OF VOTERS' DRIVE TO SEE A CHANGE IN BIG ISSUES IMPACTING THEM, SUCH AS AFFORDABILITY.

>> I THINK GAS PRICES, I THINK THE PRICE OF GROCERIES, I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST CONCERNED.

>> I THINK IT SIGNALS A FRUSTRATION AMONG AMERICANS OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP THROUGHOUT THIS ELECTION CYCLE WAS TELLING REPUBLICANS TO CONSIDER HIM ON THE BALLOT.

AND I THINK THAT DIDN'T WORK IN THE WAY THAT HE INTENDED.

>> SOME VOTERS LIKE KIMBERLY HAZZARD SAY THEY DON'T TYPICALLY VOTE, BUT BIG ISSUES LIKE AFFORDABILITY DROVE THEM TO THE POLLS.

>> I'D LIKE CHANGE.

I SEE THE ECONOMY, AND I'M SCARED, A LITTLE.

I DON'T USUALLY VOTE.

>> MANY VOTERS SAY THEY CAME TO THE POLLS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE AN END TO POLITICAL CORRUPTION, POINTING TO THE AGGRESSION OF IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, THE IRAN WAR, WHICH HAS DRAMATICALLY DRIVEN UP GAS PRICES, CUTTING HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND ENACTING AGGRESSIVE TARIFF POLICIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HIGHER FOOD PRICES.

>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICT AND WHAT THEIR DISTRICT BELIEVES IN AND WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE IN, WHICH IS AGAIN, A FAIR ELECTION, BUT ALSO A SYSTEM THAT TREATS ALL PEOPLE EQUALLY THAT DOESN'T CUT AID TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

>> IT'S BEEN A ROUGH TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW.

SO LITERALLY ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO USE THE LEVERS OF GOVERNMENT TO STOP SOME OF THE EXCESSES WE'VE SEEN, LIKE ICE, TO KIND OF TAMP DOWN ON THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES REGARDING TARIFFS THAT HE'S KIND OF UNILATERALLY ENACTING.

>> WE NOW HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS OFF TRACK, AND HE HAS TOO MANY PEOPLE GOING ALONG WITH HIS CRAZY IDEAS.

AND THERE'S A WAR THAT WE'RE IN.

WHEN HE CAME TO OFFICE, HE SAID EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER; WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE ALL THE PRICES.

WELL, THEY'RE HIGHER THAN EVER, AND WE'RE AT WAR.

SO THIS COUNTRY IS IN BAD SHAPE RIGHT NOW, AND WE JUST NEED A CHANGE.

>> IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE MOOD IN REACTION TO THE DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF CONGRESS AND THE OVERALL BIG WINS FROM DEMOCRATS IN ELECTIONS IS DEFIANCE, POINTING TOWARD TRUMP NOT BEING ON THE BALLOT, ACCORDING TO WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS.

TRUMP ALSO SAID IN A POST ON TRUTHSOCIAL THAT THE RESULTS WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT IF HE WERE ON THE BALLOT.

MEANWHILE, IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, TRUMP TOLD VOTERS TO PRETEND HE WAS ON THE BALLOT.

HE ALSO PROMISED $5,000 CHECKS TO AMERICAN VOTERS ON THE CONDITION THAT REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN BOTH HOUSES.

>> I'M ASKING YOU TO PRETEND I'M ON THE BALLOT.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.

WHEN I'M NOT ON THE BALLOT, WE DON'T DO WELL; WE HAVE 44 PERCENT OR 48 PERCENT LESS PEOPLE.

WHEN I'M ON THE BALLOT, WE KILL EVERYBODY.

SO, JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PRETEND I'M ON THE BALLOT.

BUT IN A WAY I AM ON THE BALLOT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WIN.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MID-TERM ELECTION.

>> FEDERAL LEADERS REPRESENTING NEW YORK SAY THIS IS THE END OF THE TRUMP ERA AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

>> AMERICA IS BACK.

[CHEERS] WHEN I GREW UP IN A WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD IN BROOKLYN, A UNION HOUSEHOLD, RAISED IN THE CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH, I LEARNED VERY EARLY ON THAT A SETBACK WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A SETUP FOR A COMEBACK.

TODAY BEGINS THE GREAT AMERICAN COMEBACK.

>> SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY THIS HOUSE CONTROL WIN IS MONUMENTAL, HIGHLIGHTING THAT THE LAST TIME DEMOCRATS HAD THIS LARGE OF A MAJORITY WAS ALMOST TWENTY YEARS AGO.

>> I THINK THAT YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THESE RESULTS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING A DESIRE FOR CHANGE AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

SO, WE'LL GET TO MORE OF THESE DETAILS AS ALL OF THE VOTES ARE COUNTED, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE ESSENTIALLY EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IN AMERICA SWUNG TOWARD DEMOCRATS.

>> SOME NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS SAY THIS WIN WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT AND THEY INTEND TO FOCUS ON ENDING THE WAR, ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY AND REVERSING SOCIAL PROGRAM CUTS.

>> WHEN ONE OF THE PARTIES IS IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THEY SET THE CALENDAR, THEY SET THE TONE, AND DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIORITIES THAT WILL FLOW THROUGH COMMITTEES AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO THE FLOOR.

>> WMHT REACHED OUT TO EVERY SINGLE NEW YORK REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR A REACTION, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND FOR COMMENT.

BOLIN ADDS THAT DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE WITH SUCH A LARGE MAJORITY WILL HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO TAKE AWAY THE SIMPLE MESSAGE THAT VOTING MATTERS.

>> DEMOCRACY CAN WORK; YOUR PARTICIPATION CAN MATTER.

WE SAW IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, IN NEW YORK BUT ALSO IN MANY STATES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN DISCOUNTED, AS NOT POSSIBLE FOR DEMOCRATS TO WIN.

>> DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES TO SEE VICTORY WITH MAJORITY CONTROL.

DEMOCRATS IN THE U.S.

SENATE ARE ALSO POISED TO TAKE CONTROL WITH AT LEAST MORE THAN 50 SEATS.

ELECTION BALLOTS ARE STILL BEING COUNTED, AND THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS COULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE RESULTS AS THEY COME IN AND BRING YOU UPDATES RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

>> AND FOR MORE ON CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL AND VOTER TURNOUT THIS YEAR, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO THE RESULTS OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS HERE IN NEW YORK.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WAS VICTORIOUS IN HER REELECTION BIG ON TUESDAY.

WITH A 20 PERCENTAGE POINT LEAD, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ALONG WITH OTHER CREBLE NEW OUTLETS, CALLED THE RACE FOR HOCHUL, JUST AFTER 9PM ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THIS WAS A MUCH COMFORTABLE LEAD FOR THE GOVERNOR, WHO CAME WITHIN SIX POINTS OF LOOSING HER SET AGAINST THEN REP.

LEE ZELDIN WHEN SHE RAN IN 2022.

HERE'S GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AFTER BEING DECLARED A WINNER ON TUESDAY.

>> THAT'S THE PROMISE I MADE WHEN I BECAME YOUR GOVERNOR.AND THAT'S THE PROMISE I'LL KEEP FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THAT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FUTURE ARE MY FIGHT.

TOGETHER, LET'S KEEP LIFTING UP FOR UPWARD AND EVER.

GOD BLESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE, THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

>> MEANWHILE ON LONG ISLAND, NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRUCE BLAKEMAN TOLD HIS SUPPORTERS THAT HE CALLED GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TO CONCEDE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE OTHER GOP CANDIDATES CHALLENGING STATEWIDE INCUMBENTS.

>> THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR VERY HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS CAUSE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT NOW WE PULL TOGETHER, WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR HEART.

>> AND TO UNPACK THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE AND OTHER STATEWIDE RACES, WE ARE JOINED BY JIMMY VIELKIND OF THE TIMES UNION AND BILL MAHONEY OF POLITICO.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME BACK ON THE SHOW.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> NOW, TUESDAY WAS ELECTION DAY.

AND WE KNOW DEMOCRATS HAD BIG WINS OF THE NIGHT.

SPECIFICALLY HERE IN NEW YORK, WE SAW STATEWIDE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FEND OFF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS.

SO LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, WE SAW GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL BE VICTORIOUS, WINNING HER SECOND TERM FOR GOVERNOR.

THE RACE WAS CALLED AFTER 9 P.M., JUST SHORTLY AFTER POLLS CLOSED.

SO WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE RACE OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND BRUCE BLAKEMAN?

>> WELL, I'LL START AND JUST SAY THAT THERE WASN'T MUCH DRAMA GOING INTO THIS RACE.

RIGHT?

THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY ENROLLED DEMOCRATS AS THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL, BY VIRTUE OF BEING AN INCUMBENT, HAD A LOT OF APPARATUS BEHIND HER.

THERE ARE MAJOR DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND SHE HAD A MASSIVE FUNDRAISING AND CAMPAIGN SPENDING LEAD OVER BRUCE BLAKEMAN, THE NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HER REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

WHAT I WAS WATCHING FOR GOING INTO THIS RACE WAS WHAT MIGHT BE HOCHUL'S MARGIN OF VICTORY IF SHE WERE TO BE VICTORIOUS.

IN 2022, IT WAS LESS THAN SEVEN POINTS.

THAT WAS, I BELIEVE BILL POINTED OUT, THE CLOSEST ELECTION SINCE 1994 WHEN GEORGE PATAKI NARROWLY DEFEATED GOVERNOR MARIO CUOMO.

IN THIS RACE, IT WAS AROUND 20 POINTS, A BIG BLOWOUT, AND ALMOST TRIPLE HOW GOVERNOR HOCHUL DID IN 2022.

I THINK THAT TRICKLED DOWN THE BALLOT, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOTABLE TO ME AS A SIGN OF BOTH HER STRENGTH FOR ORGANIZING PROWESS AS WELL AS JUST THE VERY, VERY DEEP, DEEP MOVEMENT WITHIN THE ELECTORATE TOWARD DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD UNDERPLAY THE ROUGHNESS OF BRUCE BLAKEMAN'S CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

CERTAINLY, I DON'T THINK ANY REPUBLICAN COULD HAVE WON IN NEW YORK THIS YEAR.

AS JIMMY MENTIONED, THE GOVERNOR DID A MUCH BETTER JOB CAMPAIGNING THAN SHE DID FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THE ELECTORATE WAS SOLIDLY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

BUT WE DID SEE IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE LOWEST ENERGY REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS WE'VE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

IF WE GO BACK TO FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN LEE ZELDIN DID PRETTY WELL FOR A REPUBLICAN AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, HE WAS EVERYWHERE.

FOR A YEAR BEFOREHAND, YOU WOULD SEE HIM AT EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, ALL SORTS OF EVENTS.

A LOT OF BRUCE BLAKEMAN'S EFFORTS, TO THE EXTENT HE DID STUFF, HE'D BE SPEAKING TO THE WYOMING COUNTY GUN CLUB OR WHATEVER, WHICH, YES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE BASE ENERGIZED, BUT HE WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE PREACHING TO THE BASE ABOUT SPREADING CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT HOW THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR IS AFRAID OF CHRISTIANS.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ACTUALLY WIN OVER A MAJORITY IN NEW YORK STATE.

THERE WAS NOT MUCH AT ALL VISIBLE IN TERMS OF EFFORTS IN BLUE AND PURPLE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HE WOULD NEED TO DO RESPECTABLY IN, AT LEAST, IF HE WANTED TO HAVE A HOPE.

>> YEAH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

I WOULD SAY THIS YEAR WE SAW A MORE COMFORTABLE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

SHE SEEMED MORE CONFIDENT, SPECIFICALLY IN HER DEBATE PERFORMANCE.

SHE WAS ABLE TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE NEGATIVE SORT OF THINGS THAT BRUCE BLAKEMAN HAS DONE, SPECIFICALLY IN HIS OWN COUNTY, SERVING AS NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND HE UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T EVEN WIN HIS OWN COUNTY IN THE RACE THIS YEAR.

SO YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB OF JUST HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE MISSTEPS AND MISFORTUNES OF THE BRUCE BLAKEMAN CAMPAIGN.

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT HE DID POSITIVELY?

>> I MEAN, I GUESS HE DID INSPIRE THE BASE IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE.

AND ONE THING THAT I THINK WENT OKAY FOR REPUBLICANS ON TUESDAY NIGHT WAS -- IT WAS NOT A GOOD NIGHT AT ALL BY ANY MEANS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, THE SENATE DEMOCRATS WALKED AWAY WITH THEIR BIGGEST MAJORITY SINCE 1846.

IT WAS NOT A CLOSE CALL AT ALL ON THAT SIDE OF THINGS.

AND FURTHER DOWN BALLOT, THERE WERE NOT MANY FLIPS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

BUT IT WAS NOT QUITE AS DISASTROUS AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN STATES LIKE TEXAS, WHERE YOU WOULD SEE LIKE 10-POINT SWINGS IN LIKE EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE.

THEY DID HOLD ON TO THINGS LIKE A COUPLE OF SUFFOLK COUNTY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, WHERE IN A 10-POINT WAVE YEAR, YOU WOULD THINK MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE LOST ONE OR TWO OF THOSE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT IN YEARS LIKE 2018, WHEN IT WAS JUST AROUND THE STATE, ALL SORTS OF UPSETS IN DISTRICTS THAT HAD BEEN PLUS 10, PLUS 15 REPUBLICAN.

AND THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY OF THOSE, AND WE'LL HAVE TO DIVE DOWN FURTHER DOWN BALLOT.

BUT IT'S LIKE THE SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS FLIPPED WERE ONES THAT HAD BEEN, FOR THE MOST PART, LIKE PLUS FIVE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS IN THE PAST.

AND IT WASN'T A COMPLETE ANNIHILATION IN SOME OF THESE RED PARTS OF THE STATE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TEXAS OR GEORGIA OR A PLACE LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK, AND SHANTEL, YOU ALLUDED TO THIS, KATHY HOCHUL'S CAMPAIGN STRATEGY IN MANY WAYS CAN BE BOILED DOWN TO JUST TWO WORDS, DONALD TRUMP.

SHE MENTIONED THE PRESIDENT MORE THAN 50 TIMES IN THE ONE DEBATE SHE HAD AGAINST BRUCE BLAKEMAN.

BLAKEMAN, OF COURSE, HAS A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT WHO POLLS SHOWED HE'S VIEWED NEGATIVELY BY AROUND 60 PERCENT OF NEW YORKERS, DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

AND SO SINCE THERE WAS THIS BIG NATIONAL MOVEMENT, SINCE DONALD TRUMP DID SAY THAT VOTERS SHOULD THINK OF HIM AS BEING ON THE BALLOT, THIS WAS IN MANY WAYS A REFERENDUM ON HIS POLICIES.

IT HAD LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO DO WITH BRUCE BLAKEMAN AND KATHY HOCHUL.

AND SO THE QUESTION THAT I AM PONDERING A LITTLE BIT AND THAT I'VE TALKED TO SOME REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS AND STRATEGISTS ABOUT IS WHETHER BLAKEMAN COULD HAVE DONE BETTER HAD HE TRIED TO PUT MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT.

OPINIONS DIFFER.

SOME PEOPLE SAID THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN MAKE ANY KIND OF A SPACE.

BLAKEMAN, OF COURSE, HAS A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMP.

IT PRECEDES TRUMP'S ASCENT INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.

BUT HE ESSENTIALLY EMBRACED THE PRESIDENT.

HE TALKED ABOUT HIM.

HE ATTENDED TWO RALLIES IN NEW YORK STATE WITH THE PRESIDENT, FIRST ONE ON LONG ISLAND AND THEN ANOTHER IN SYRACUSE.

AND SO I THINK THAT, REALLY, THIS COMES DOWN TO DONALD TRUMP.

AND PART OF BLAKEMAN'S LACKLUSTER SHOWING WAS ESSENTIALLY NO ATTEMPT TO TRY AND CREATE SPACE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE PRESIDENT.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE SO EVEN IF HE HAD TRIED.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK FOR ME, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THE NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE GOES FROM HERE, IF HE CHOOSES TO RUN LOCALLY AGAIN OR IF HE CHOOSES TO TRY HIS HAND AT ANOTHER STATEWIDE OFFICE.

SWITCHING NOW TO OTHER STATEWIDE RACES, WERE THERE ANY TAKEAWAYS THAT YOU HAD FOR THE AG'S RACE OR THE COMPTROLLER'S RACE THIS YEAR?

>> THEY BOTH WERE AS SOLID DEMOCRATIC WINS AS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WAS.

I DO THINK THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS, LIKE THEY ARE HYPING UP AND HOPE THEY HAVE A FUTURE CANDIDATE FOR OTHER OFFICES BECAUSE OF AT LEAST A STRONG DEBATE PERFORMANCE IN THAT CONTEST.

THE COMPTROLLER'S RACE HAS BECOME THE LEAST DRAMATIC RACE IN NEW YORK EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS.

COMPTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI, I BELIEVE WHEN WE SEE ALL THE FINAL NUMBERS, WILL HAVE LED THE TICKET BY A COMFORTABLE MARGIN AGAIN.

HE'S POISED NOW TO PASS GEORGE CLINTON PRETTY SOON AS THE THIRD LARGEST, LONGEST SERVING STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN NEW YORK'S HISTORY.

AND HE'S AN INSTITUTION.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE OVER EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

I'VE LOST TRACK OF HOW MANY LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS WE'VE HAD SINCE TOM DINAPOLI BECAME COMPTROLLER.

>> AND YOU WOULD KNOW.

I MEAN, YOU KEEP TRACK OF THESE HISTORIC CONTEXTUAL FACTS IN NEW YORK.

SO YOU WOULD KNOW.

>> IT'S A LONG LIST, BUT IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, HE'S 20 YEARS NOW AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE QUITE A FEW MORE UP AHEAD, IT SEEMS.

AND IT'S DURING A TIME WHEN WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH CHANGE IN THE STATE SENATE GOING FROM DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE MAJORITY FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR SINCE WORLD WAR II TO NOW THEY'RE KIND OF IN A PERMANENT SUPERMAJORITY ALMOST, IT SEEMS.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS WEREN'T A THING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN TOM DINAPOLI TOOK OVER.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN NEW YORK, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO FAZE HIM.

>> YEAH, JUST TWO POINTS OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S SIX LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.

I WAS TRYING TO COUNT GOING UP ON SEVEN WITH ADRIAN ADAMS BEING INSTALLED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WATCH OUT ARTHUR LEVITT SR., THE MAN WHO HAD FOUR TERMS.

EXCUSE ME.

SIX TERMS ELECTED AS STATE COMPTROLLER.

YOU KNOW, IF DINAPOLI GOES FOR FOUR MORE, HE COULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE LONGEST SERVING STATE COMPTROLLER.

>> THE ONE BARRIER HE'S GOT RIGHT NOW IS TOM DINAPOLI, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME AT THIS POINT, TOOK OVER IN FEBRUARY OF A TERM BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS COMPTROLLER WAS FORCED OUT.

AND SO HE MISSED OUT ON THAT FIRST MONTH AND A HALF THAT WOULD LET HIM TIE THE RECORD WITH THIS TERM.

>> SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.

I WANTED TO GET INTO THE MAKEUP OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

SPECIFICALLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG DEMOCRATIC WINS, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE RACES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT WAS BY MOST MEASURES THE BEST NIGHT DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD AT LEAST IN 180 YEARS, ARGUABLY EVER, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU CALCULATE MAJORITIES.

THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A LOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AT ALL ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THE ONLY ISSUE THEY COULD PLAUSIBLY HAVE AT THIS POINT IS THAT THEY HAVE TOO MANY DEMOCRATS WHERE IT'S LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MANY THAT, YOU KNOW WE'VE SEEN FOR EXAMPLE THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE THAT IN RECENT YEARS SINCE THEY TOOK THE MAJORITY HAS LARGELY BEEN A UNIFIED BODY WHERE EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOME MODERATES AND SOCIALISTS AND STUFF THEY'RE NOT PUBLICLY BICKERING WITH EACH OTHER BUT ONCE YOU KEEP ON GROWING THAT ALWAYS GETS TOUGHER TO KIND OF KEEP EVERYBODY GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT HAVING TOO MANY MEMBERS IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR DEMOCRATS GOING FORWARD, I THINK THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO DISPUTE THE IDEA THAT THEY HAD A GREAT NIGHT.

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH BILL.

I THINK WHAT I'LL BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING FOR ARE INTRAPARTY TENSIONS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT ALREADY BREWING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE IS NO FAN OF KIND OF A BLOCK OF SOCIALISTS AND PROGRESSIVES WHO HAVE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL AND AGITATING FOR VARIOUS THINGS IN HIS CHAMBER.

I EXPECT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO SEE THOSE TENSIONS RISE OVER THE COMING YEARS, AND I WILL BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY.

>> AND WHEN WE LOOK NATIONALLY, I MEAN, DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THE REASON FOR INFLATION, THE REASON FOR THE RISE OF GAS AND GROCERY PRICES, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE WAR.

AND I THINK VOTERS COMING INTO ELECTION DAY THIS DAY, IT WAS CERTAINLY, AS YOU POINTED TO EARLIER, WAS A REJECTION OF DONALD TRUMP.

SO AS DEMOCRATS HAVE THAT MAJORITY IN CONGRESS AND WE HAVE OUR NEW YORK DEMOCRATS LEADING DEMOCRATS UP ON CAPITOL HILL, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP TRANSLATING HERE IN ALBANY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ACTUALLY A PRESIDENT WHO'S A NEW YORKER, A SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TO BE FROM NEW YORK, A HOUSE SPEAKER TO BE, THEORETICALLY, FROM NEW YORK.

I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT STEP IS TO WREST THE PAPACY FROM CHICAGO, AND THEN, GOD FORBID, MAYBE THE METS COULD WIN, AND THEN NEW YORK WILL REALLY BE ON TOP WITH EVERYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE METS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE DELIVERY OF BACON, BUT I THINK THIS IS A BIG TEST FOR DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY AND FOR, AS YOU SAID, SHANTEL, SOME VERY PROMINENT NEW YORKERS.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IDEA OF DELIVERING ON POLICY AGAINST A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND PERHAPS INSTINCTS TO HOLD THE REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MAYBE INVESTIGATE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SO I THINK IT'S A BIG TEST GOING FORWARD FOR WHAT ARE STRONG DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES, BOTH IN ALBANY AND WASHINGTON.

AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> YEAH, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

BUT WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE REPORTING.

>> THANKS, SHANTEL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH JIMMY VIELKIND OF THE TIMES UNION AND BILL MAHONEY OF POLITICO.

AND FOR MORE ON THE TOPICS WE UNPACKED IN THIS WEEK'S SHOW, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

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THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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