Gov. Hochul will debate Congressman Lee Zeldin in October

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday she’ll be part of one general election debate.

She’ll debate Republican candidate Congressman Lee Zeldin on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Pace University.

Hochul debated twice during the Democratic Primary. This will be her third of the year.

Two weeks ago, Zeldin was in Rochester, criticizing Hochul for not agreeing to any debates yet.

Zeldin wanted a debate held here in Western New York. The October debate will be two weeks before election day.

Congressman Lee Zeldin responded on Wednesday with the following statement:

“This is absolutely unacceptable just how much contempt Kathy Hochul has towards New Yorkers that she is trying to pathetically get away with just one General Election debate over a month after absentee ballots start going out. We should have a live, televised debate right now,” said Congressman Zeldin. “Voters should have the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand before they vote, not after. Meanwhile, the NYC media market is not the only media market in the state. It is important to have debates throughout the state to focus on issues specific to that particular region. Scaredy Kat Hochul can run but she can’t hide from her absolutely abysmal record on the issues most important to New Yorkers, including rising crime, skyrocketing cost of living, and an eroding quality of education. Even in the Democratic Party primary, Hochul had multiple debates! She owes it to the voters as part of this process to have multiple debates throughout the state about the issues most important to them. The fact that Kathy Hochul believes New Yorkers don’t deserve that should tell them all they need to know when they’re headed to the ballot box on November 8th.”