NY Governor Kathy Hochul in hot water after telling GOP candidates to leave the state

Democratic Governor of New York Kathy Hochul has found herself in the midst of a new controversy this week after she told several Republican politicians in a speech to leave the state.

At a rally with other New York Democrats in the Hudson Valley last Monday evening before the special election in District 19, Hochul delivered a speech in which she called for her Republican opponent Lee Zeldin, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, and former president Donald Trump to leave New York. 

“We are fighting for democracy. We’re fighting to bring government back to the people and out of the hands of dictators,” Hochul said to the crowd. “The era of Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro – just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong. OK? Get out of town. Because you don’t represent our values,” she added. 

Since the speech, the Republican candidates in question have lashed back at the Governor. “Wow @KathyHochul. You’re losing your marbles lady,” Tweeted Zeldin the same night. “Won’t take you up on your psycho demand to leave New York, but what I will do is get in my car right now, drive to NY-19, & do everything in my power to make sure @marcmolinaro wins tomorrow’s Special Election.”

Tim Hoefer, President of the CEO of the Empire Center for Public Policy wrote an op-ed in the New York Post on Thursday calling Hochul’s words “dangerous and disgusting,” taking Hochul’s comments as directed at all 5.4 million New York Republicans.

“If you can move beyond the frankly disgusting political partisanship and intolerance, her message is fiscally irresponsible, even dangerous,” wrote Hoefer. “The state’s extensive public sector is heavily reliant on personal income taxes paid by residents, and with nearly $14 billion in projected budget gaps over the next five years, it can’t afford to lose any taxpayers, let alone 5.4 million of them.”

Asked on Friday about her controversial comments, Hochul clarified that she was referring only to the three individuals mentioned, not all Republicans in New York.

“I referred to three individuals: Donald Trump, County Executive Molinaro, and Congressman Lee Zeldin. I spoke about three people whose views we believe are extreme. They supported the overturning of a presidential election,” Hochul said.