More bad news for New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul as Queens Councilman Robert Holden (D) has crossed the political aisle and endorsed Republican Lee Zeldin to unseat her, citing raging out-of-control crime in the Big Apple and other issues.
“Just look at the current condition of New York City and New York State: There’s mayhem in our streets, in our courts, in our jails,” Holden pointed out as he endorsed Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin for governor on Monday.
“We’re headed in the wrong direction,” he declared. “The handwriting is on the wall. Lee Zeldin is the best option for voters.”
As he made the announcement against his own party’s incumbent, Holden and Zeldin stood on the steps of City Hall. They were joined by two former Democratic lawmakers, former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind and former Bronx Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr.
🚨Many big Democratic Party endorsements of our campaign were announced today by our Democrats for Zeldin Coalition: @BobHoldenNYC, @HikindDov, Stephen Kaufman, @revrubendiaz, @Asianwave_org Founder Yiatin Chu, @donghui4nyc, @teacher_choice Founder Michael Kane, & @BrameMadeline pic.twitter.com/DOtGkYD9pe
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) September 13, 2022
Holden is a strong supporter of police in New York and has had a contentious relationship with the Democratic Party. He called for the NYPD to return to its successful ‘Broken Windows‘ policing strategy of the 1990s. The practice includes stopping and searching New Yorkers when officers have a reasonable basis to conclude there is a possible danger to the public.
That policy was restricted by a federal court after it determined that the NYPD’s widespread usage of ‘stop-and-frisk’ had amounted to racial profiling.
He was elected to the Council in 2017 following a loss in the Democratic primary. He won in the general election on the Republican line but then caucused with the Democrats.
Democrats supporting @leezeldin today at City Hall include @BobHoldenNYC @revrubendiaz @HikindDov and Stephen Kaufman, all citing crime as among their reasons pic.twitter.com/4eKFDrB5fn
— Emily Ngo (@emilyngo) September 12, 2022
The Queens Democrat made his political bones opposing former Mayor De Blasio’s mandate ordering two hotels in his district to house homeless New Yorkers. He also emphasized in his campaign platform his opposition to opening a new permanent shelter on Cooper Avenue in Glendale, according to the New York Post.
Holden has become infamous for his tough criticism of New York’s controversial bail reform laws.
Hochul took office in 2021 after disgraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped down. Holden has criticized her for iron-fisting COVID emergency orders and brutally enforcing them on New Yorkers since that time.
Nice !! She is a demon!
— Kathleen Winchell 🍊🍊ULTRAMAGA (@KathleenWinche3) September 13, 2022
Putting her finger into the political wind on Monday, Hochul said she would let the orders expire amid criticism from GOP opponents.
Polling is all over the place on the gubernatorial race in New York, according to the New York Post. Two recent surveys show Zeldin unbelievably trailing Hochul by 15-24 percentage points. However, two other surveys show him within single digits of the incumbent and that is what the Republican candidate is focusing on.
Meanwhile, Republicans are accusing Hochul supporters of “dirty tricks” for sending voters pre-filled applications for absentee ballots with COVID checked as the reason for voting remotely. They are ostensibly pulling this trick because the race is tightening between Hochul and Zeldin, according to the New York Post.
"It's an abuse of the law," state GOP chairman @NickLangworthy tells reporters on conference call over new Democratic mailer that looks like an official document.
He shared these images… pic.twitter.com/aDUVH5tRBF
— Joseph Spector (@JoeSpectorNY) September 12, 2022
“No one should fill out that box, but the voter who’s requesting,” GOP state Chair Nick Langworthy asserted Monday.
“It’s unconscionable and at the height of dishonesty and hypocrisy that Democrats are using the guise of COVID while we gather at concerts,” he added, calling the move “dirty tricks and deceitful schemes” that are being used by Democrats.
“This is the dirty use of a loophole in the election law and trying to do this in the name of COVID and public health I think is reprehensible,” Langworthy charged.
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