Zeldin Rejects Hochul's Offer Of 1 Debate: 'It's A Non-Starter'

LONG ISLAND, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul has offered a single debate with challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin in the upcoming gubernatorial race — and Zeldin flatly rejected the offer, unless additional debates are added.

On Wednesday, Hochul's campaign said she would agree to an hour-long debate Oct. 25, hosted by Spectrum News NY1 at Pace University in New York City, according to the Daily News.

“Governor Hochul looks forward to highlighting the clear contrast between her strong record of delivering results and Lee Zeldin’s extreme agenda,” campaign spokesman Jerrel Harvey said in a statement, according to that Daily News report.

Zeldin fired back with a news conference, blasting Hochul's suggestion for a single debate on a network he said not all New Yorkers could access.

In addition, he said, "You can have a debate in one region of the state and the issues might not be the same as in another part of the state. . . We have that diverse state."

He added that for Hochul to suggest "a one-hour debate, a month after the start of absentee voting, is unacceptable. I reject that."

His idea, Zeldin said, was at least five debates in various media markets. "I'm happy to have one in every media market," he said during the news conference, adding he'd like debates on platforms all New Yorkers could access.

"I call on Gov. Hochul to come out of hiding," he said.

When asked if he would consider the single debate, Zeldin said, "As of right now, I am rejecting Kathy Hochul's offer of one debate, at the end of October. I'm not playing along with her games. This strategy is insulting and disrespectful to the voters of New York. I'm calling on her to come forward with a new plan for multiple debates across the state. That offer is a non-starter."

Earlier this week, Hochul, a Democrat, said that she would debate her opponent Zeldin, a Republican, in the upcoming election.

According to a report by13WHAM.com, a Rochester-based television station, Hochul announced during a question-and-answer session after a press briefing that she would debate Zeldin.

Last week, Zeldin held a virtual statewide news conference blasting Kathy Hochul for her "continued refusal to accept any televised debate requests."

In June, Zeldin was declared the winner of the GOP primary to vie for the New York State governor's seat against incumbent Hochul, who won the Democratic primary, giving her a chance in the Nov. 8 election to become the first woman to serve a full term as New York's governor.

"Are you with me when we stand up for real New York values, our hard-earned values that we've had since Seneca Falls all the way to Stonewall," she said. "Are you with me? Because I'm with all of you."

Zeldin has said it's time for change.

"This is a rescue mission to end the attacks on our safety, wallets, freedoms and kids’ education. Losing is not an option," he said in his acceptance speech. "Kathy Hochul has now been warned that the people of New York are coming for her job at the ballot box this November. "