Source: Politics<\/p>\n
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed back Friday against Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s suggestion that the governor\u2019s weakness at the top of the ticket in the Empire State cost Democrats the House.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell you this, no governor in the history of the state of New York has worked harder to elect members of Congress than I have,\u201d Hochul told MSNBC\u2019s \u201cMorning Joe.\u201d \u201cWe are going to win this on the ground because I know how to do this. I now have the chance to focus on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an interview with POLITICO on<\/a> Thursday, Pelosi blamed Hochul\u2019s closer-than-expected victory in New York\u2019s 2022 gubernatorial race for Democrats inability to maintain their House majority in that year\u2019s elections. New York Republicans flipped four Democratic-held seats<\/a> in those midterms, races where critics have suggested that Hochul may have been a drag on down-ballot candidates.<\/p>\n Asked about that claim by Pelosi, the governor flatly replied \u201cI don\u2019t agree with that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hochul cited her efforts to begin raising money for New York\u2019s Democratic Party and pour it into local counties, as well as ongoing coordination with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and hundreds of staffers across 35 offices.<\/p>\n Pelosi said Thursday that she hadn\u2019t spoken to Hochul about this year\u2019s races but had consulted with Jeffries as recently as that morning. She emphasized the importance of the \u201cthree M\u2019s: mobilization, message, money.\u201d<\/p>\n Hochul acknowledged Friday she can \u201claser focus\u201d on key purple districts \u2014 including Hudson Valley, Syracuse, Central New York and Long Island \u2014 now that \u201cI\u2019m not a candidate this year myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to win these races and win strong,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n