Stefanik lights into Hochul on migrant crime in New York during fiery exchange
Stefanik invoked an executive order immigration signed by Hochul, along with a number of recent crimes committed by those who were in the country without authorization, including the burning of a woman on the New York City subway last year.
'This is Kathy Hochul's New York. It's one of the many reasons why you're hemorrhaging support from hardworking New York families,' Stefanik said. 'They're horrific crimes that are committed on your watch. You signed this executive order on your first day in office. You signed it again and again this January.'
'We deserved a governor who stands up for New Yorkers, who doesn't put illegals first but actually puts New Yorkers first,' she continued.
The exchange took place at the Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary states on Thursday, featuring Hochul, along with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D).
Stefanik several times spoke over Hochul during the fiery back-and-forth as the New York governor struggled to recall specifics of the cases but repeatedly told Stefanik she condemns the 'horrific' crimes Stefanik cited.
She said New York cooperates with Immigration Customs Enforcement.
'Rather than you going after the viral moment, I suggest you look at the facts,' Hochul responded.'No, no, no. I'm standing up for New Yorkers.'
Most scientific research on the connection between immigration and crime has found that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than their U.S.-born peers.
Stefanik, who is not on the Oversight Committee but appeared on the dais at the hearing as a member of House GOP leadership, is considering a run for New York governor.
Hochul is facing a potentially tough reelection bid in New York next year, four years after she won election in the blue state by single digits.
A Siena College poll released last month showed 55 percent of New York voters said they want 'someone else' in next year's gubernatorial race, while 36 percent said they prefer Hochul, marking a shift of negative 10 points since the same poll last month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
Wisconsin Republican faces angry town hall over Trump agenda
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) was heckled and booed during a Thursday town hall in his district over a slate of GOP policies, including immigration, the 'big, beautiful bill,' and President Trump's tariffs. Steil faced particular criticism of the administration's aggressive deportation campaign, drawing jeers from the crowd as he attempted to answer. 'What I view is the moral hazard created by the Biden administration by allowing the U.S.-Mexico border to remain unsecure,' he began, before pausing and shrugging his shoulders as the audience began to boo. An audience member later in the town hall referred to Alligator Alcatraz, the recently constructed detention center in the Florida Everglades, as a 'concentration camp.' Other audience members went after Steil for being too closely aligned with Trump. 'I am so disappointed in how you represent us, as the citizens of Walworth County. Southeast Wisconsin is not represented by you,' one man said. 'President Trump seems to run southeast Wisconsin, through you.' The event's moderator stepped in at multiple points to attempt to quiet the crowd, CNN reported, and called out a specific audience member for being 'very obnoxious and very disrespectful.' Angry voters at GOP town halls also made headlines during the House's last recess in March, with constituent ire often focused on cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The backlash escalated to a point where House Republican leaders urged their members to avoid live, in-person town halls. Republicans have also accused Democrats of organizing the public pushback. Steil also faced questions about Trump's tariff policies as new, elevated rates were set to kick in Friday (the town hall took place before the president announced a series of new tariffs would go into effect next week). 'I would like to know what dire economic circumstances put Trump in position of throwing tariffs on over 190 countries,' one voter said, drawing cheers and clapping from the audience. Steil defended the policies as forcing other countries to treat the U.S. fairly in trade. Steil, who represents a district just south of Milwaukee once held by former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R), wrote on X after the 'listening session' that he was committed to holding future events. 'Despite a handful of individuals attempting to disrupt the discussion, we had a great dialogue about the issues that matter most,' he wrote. Last week, Steil was the target of a demonstration in which a group of elderly protesters left what appeared to be a cardboard coffin in front of his home, chastizing him for supporting the 'big, beautiful bill.' Democrats have hoped to use the massive legislation package, which cuts Medicaid and other social services along with extending tax cuts, as a cudgel against Republicans in the midterms.
The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
Cooper has early lead over Whatley in North Carolina Senate race, survey shows
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has an early lead over Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in the state's Senate race as the candidates appear poised for a general election matchup. The Emerson College Polling survey, released Friday, shows Cooper leading Whatley by 6 points, 47 percent to 41 percent, with 12 percent undecided. The former governor also starts out with a considerable advantage in name recognition, with 84 percent having a view — either favorable or unfavorable — of him while only a third seemed to have a view of the RNC chief. 'With over a year to go until the North Carolina U.S. Senate race, Whatley's low name recognition presents both a challenge and an opportunity, while only 17% view him favorably, nearly two-thirds of voters either don't know him or are unsure,' Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in the release. 'That leaves room for his campaign to define him before his opponent does.' Just over half of respondents said they view Cooper favorably while a third view him unfavorably. Meanwhile, Whatley is viewed favorably by 17 percent and unfavorably by 16 percent, putting his net favorability about even, according to the poll. The percentage of voters who aren't familiar with a candidate usually drops as the campaign advances, but its effect on polling of the race and the candidates' favorability is uncertain. Cooper's lead is largely powered by a 19-point advantage among independents, 47 percent to 28 percent, and a 25-point lead among voters under 50, 54 percent to 29 percent. Whatley's advantage comes with voters over 50, ahead 52 percent to 41 percent, the survey shows. The poll comes after both Cooper and Whatley entered the race this week and is one of the first of the potential general election matchup. Both seem to be clear favorites for their nominations with the parties largely coalescing around them, respectively. Cooper first joined the race on Monday after months of speculation and raised $3.4 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign. Democrats see the seat, currently held by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), as one of their best pickup opportunities in 2026. Whatley launched his candidacy on Thursday already with an endorsement from President Trump, and he quickly received the support of top Senate GOP leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the chair of Senate Republicans' campaign arm. The poll was conducted from June 28-30 among 1,000 registered voters. The credibility interval, similar to a margin of error, was 3 percentage points.
San Francisco Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan
NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill — especially Medicaid cuts that will leave millions of Americans without health care coverage. Republican leaders in Washington, meanwhile, have encouraged their members to promote more popular aspects of the bill during smaller controlled appearances where GOP officials are less likely to face difficult questions or protests. The Democratic National Committee's so-called 'Organizing Summer" will feature events in all 50 states, beginning with Alaska, Texas, Colorado and California over the coming week. The party's message will be reinforced by online advertising and billboard trucks at state and county fairs in the coming days targeting vulnerable House Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey, among other states. 'As Democrats, our job is to ensure that every American across the country understands the devastating impacts of this bill," DNC Chair Ken Martin said. "Democrats will be holding events, highlighting Republican hypocrisy, and ensuring Americans across the country know exactly who is responsible for taking away health care, food, construction jobs, and nursing homes in order to give massive handouts to billionaires.' The massive Republican-backed tax and spending package that Trump called 'big, beautiful' and signed into law on July 4 may ultimately become the defining issue of next year's midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for Trump's final two years in office. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, but polling suggests that voters have been slow to embrace the GOP's message. The new law will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, leave more than another 10 million people without health insurance and leave millions of others without food stamps, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. For much of the year, Republican officials have avoided town hall meetings with constituents or public appearances where they might face protesters or unscripted questions from voters. GOP members of Congress may be slightly more visible this summer, however, according to a memo distributed this week by the House Republican campaign arm. The memo encourages Republicans to be proactive in selling Trump's bill during the August recess, although the National Republican Campaign Committee suggests its members focus on tax cuts in smaller settings they can control. Among the NRCC's suggestions outlined in the memo: 'Visit a local hospital and discuss how you voted for no tax on overtime,' 'stop by a restaurant to highlight your vote on no tax on tips' and 'work the counter at a local store and chat about your work to lower costs.' The monthlong August break 'is a critical opportunity to continue to define how this legislation will help every voter and push back on Democrat fearmongering,' the Republican memo says. Democrats are planning a decidedly more public campaign this month than their Republican rivals, although they'll also offer 'multi-day intensive bootcamps' as part of a training program for political operatives and community leaders. Events are being planned for all 50 states with special focus on 35 of the most competitive congressional districts in the country. Current and former Democratic officials will be featured, including former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who emerged as a leader against gun violence since her 2011 assassination attempt. As part of the new effort, the Democratic National Committee is also launching a new digital advertising campaign initially targeting vulnerable Republicans in Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia. That's in addition to the DNC sending mobile billboard trucks to county fairs in the districts of Republicans in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 'Trump's big ugly bill: $4 trillion giveaway to billionaires. The rest of us pay the price,' read the billboards, which will feature the name and face of each Republican congressman. 'The big, ugly law is a political disaster," said Viet Shelton, spokesman for the House Democrats campaign arm. 'Everyone hates it and vulnerable House Republicans know it, which is why they're scared to face their constituents in person during the August recess.'
