PolitiFact: Checking claims in the Hochul-Zeldin debate By Jill Terreri Ramos Special to the News Oct 31, 2022 Oct 31, 2022 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In the only debate in the race for New York governor, incumbent Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin offered plenty of claims and counterclaims. kAm+6=5:?[ 2 #6AF3=:42? 7C@> {@?8 xD=2?5[ 7@4FD65 @? 4C:>6[ E96 qF772=@ q:==D DE25:F> 562= 2?5 E96 DE2E6VD A@AF=2E:@? =@DD[ H9:=6 w@49F=[ 2? tC:6 r@F?EJ s6>@4C2E[ 9:89=:89E65 +6=5:?’D 7C:6?5=J C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A[ 9:D G@E6D 282:?DE 46CE:7J:?8 E96 a_a_ AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@? C6DF=ED :? pC:K@?2 2?5 !6??DJ=G2?:2[ 2?5 9:D 2?E:\23@CE:@? C:89ED G:6HD]k^AmkAm(6 724E\4964<65 D@>6 @7 E96:C 4=2:>D 7C@> E96 ~4E] ad 5632E6ik^Am kAmkDEC@?8m+6=5:?i }6H *@C< =625D E96 ?2E:@? :? A@AF=2E:@? =@DD]k^DEC@?8mk^Am People are also reading… Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Board approves carp comeback at Smith Mountain Lake to eat invasive hydrilla Franklin County wants to raise taxes. Here's where the money would go. Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward Spanberger signs bills that tighten controls on guns Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Smith Mountain Lake State Park lecture series wraps up on Sunday Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Franklin County chicken and bee zoning overhaul draws resident backlash Man unlawfully in US arrested in Franklin County for child sex abuse 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Trump to visit Charlottesville Friday Carter Bank sold Justice loan portfolio to Omni parent company Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy kAm%9:D :D 244FC2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !6H[ 2 ?@?A2CE:D2? C6D62C49 @C82?:K2E:@?]k^AmkAmQ}6H *@C< =@DE b`h[___ A6@A=6 D:?46 >:5\a_a_[ 2 564=:?6 @7 `]dgT[ E96 >@DE @7 2?J DE2E6] %92E’D AC:>2C:=J 3642FD6 >2?J C6D:56?ED =67E }6H *@C< 7@C @E96C DE2E6D[Q !6H HC@E6] $6G6?E66? DE2E6D =@DE C6D:56?ED 36EH66? yF=J a_a_ 2?5 yF=J a_a`] }6H *@C< H2D 7@==@H65 3J x==:?@:D[ w2H2:: 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2[ 2== =@D:?8 =6DD E92? `T @7 E96:C A@AF=2E:@?D] |62?H9:=6[ @E96C }@CE962DE DE2E6D – r@??64E:4FE[ |2:?6[ '6C>@?E 2?5 }6H w2>AD9:C6 – 82:?65 C6D:56?ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mw@49F=i (6 492?865 32:= C67@C> =2HD D@ E92E C6A62E @776?56CD 2?5 A6@A=6 H:E9 8F? @776?D6D H:== 36 EC62E65 2D E96J H6C6 F?56C E96 @=5 =2H]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm%96 4=2:> 23@FE C6A62E @776?56CD 4@G6CD A6@A=6 244FD65 @7 92C>:?8 A6@A=6 @C 52>28:?8 AC@A6CEJ[ @C H9@ 92G6 366? 492C865 H:E9 4C:>:?2= 8F? A@DD6DD:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ zCJDE2= |] #@5C:8F6K[ A@=:4J 5:C64E@C H:E9 E96 s2E2 r@==23@C2E:G6 7@C yFDE:46 2E y@9? y2J r@==686 @7 rC:>:?2= yFDE:46] w@H6G6C[ A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 492C865 >@C6 E92? @?46 H:E9 492C86D E92E 5@ ?@E 4@?46C? 92C> E@ A6@A=6 @C AC@A6CEJ[ DF49 2D D:>A=6 5CF8 A@DD6DD:@? 42D6D[ 2C6 ?@E 27764E65 3J C646?E 492?86D E@ E96 =2H]k^Am kAm%96 2>6?5>6?ED E92E H6?E :?E@ 67764E @? yF=J a[ a_a_[ :?4=F565 2 AC@G:D:@? E92E 7@C D@>6@?6 H:E9 2 A6?5:?8 42D6 @G6C 2 492C86 E92E :?4=F56D 92C>:?8 2 A6CD@? @C AC@A6CEJ 2?5 2 ?6H 492C86 E92E :?4=F56D 92C>:?8 2 A6CD@? @C AC@A6CEJ[ 2 ;F586 42? C6BF:C6 42D9 32:= 367@C6 C6=62D:?8 E96 5676?52?E 367@C6 5:DA@D:E:@? @7 E96 ?6H 42D6] x? a_aa[ w@49F= AC6DD65 7FCE96C 492?86D[ D@ E92E 6G6? :? 2 A6?5:?8 42D6 :? H9:49 E96 5676?52?E 925?VE 366? 2CC2:8?65 J6E[ DF49 2D :? 42D6D H96C6 2 56D< 2AA62C2?46 E:4<6E :D :DDF65[ E96 42D6 42? 36 4@F?E65 2D A6?5:?8 :7 2? 2CC6DE H2D >256 @? 2 492C86 E92E :?4=F565 92C> E@ 2 A6CD@? @C AC@A6CEJ] w@49F= 2=D@ 25565 4C:>:?2= A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 7:C62C>[ H9:49 5@6D?’E E649?:42==J :?G@=G6 92C> E@ 2 A6CD@?[ 2D 2 32:=\6=:8:3=6 492C86 :7 6:E96C E96 4FCC6?E @C A6?5:?8 492C86D :?4=F56 E92E @776?D6]k^Am kAm%96 C646?E 2>6?5>6?ED 25565 >@C6 8F? @776?D6D E@ E96 =:DE @7 492C86D :? H9:49 2 ;F586 42? :>A@D6 32:= 367@C6 C6=62D:?8 2 5676?52?E] w@H6G6C[ w@49F=’D 4=2:> :>A=:6D E92E ;F586D H6C6 AC6G:@FD=J AC64=F565 7C@> C6BF:C:?8 32:= 367@C6 C6=62D:?8 D@>6@?6 @? 8F? 492C86D 367@C6 E96 C646?E 492?86D[ #@5C:8F6K D2:5] x? }6H *@C< r:EJ[ 4C:>:?2= A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 H62A@? :? E96 D64@?5 568C66 :D E96 8F? A@DD6DD:@? 492C86 >@DE @7E6? 492C865 :? 8F? 42D6D[ 2?5 ;F586D 2=H2JD 925 E96 5:D4C6E:@? E@ C6BF:C6 2 5676?52?E A@DE 32:= 367@C6 36:?8 C6=62D65 367@C6 5:DA@D:E:@? @7 E96 42D6] %92E :D 3642FD6 :E :D 4=2DD:7:65 2D 2 G:@=6?E 76=@?J @776?D6[ 2?5 :?:E:2= 492?86D E@ E96 32:= =2H :? a_`h 2==@H65 ;F586D E@ C6BF:C6 32:= 367@C6 C6=62D6[ D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmw@49F=’D 2>6?5>6?ED 25565 8F? A@DD6DD:@? @776?D6D :? H9:49 ;F586D 2C6 2==@H65 E@ :>A@D6 32:= 367@C6 C6=62D:?8 2 5676?52?E[ DF49 2D 4C:>:?2= A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 H62A@? @? D49@@= 8C@F?5D[ 4C:>:?2= A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 H62A@? :? E96 E9:C5 568C66 2?5 4C:>:?2= D2=6 @7 2 7:C62C> E@ 2 >:?@C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mw@49F=i +6=5:? G@E65 282:?DE E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 3:== 2?5 E96 x?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4E]k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm%9:D :D 244FC2E6] +6=5:? G@E65 282:?DE E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 3:== 2?5 E96 x?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4E] w6 D2:5 E96 x?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4E DA6?5D >@?6J E96 4@F?ECJ 42?’E 277@C5]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m+6=5:?i }6H *@C< DE2E6 A2:5 EH:46 2D >F49 7@C r@G:5\`h E6DED 2D r2=:7@C?:2 3642FD6 w@49F= 82G6 2 ?@\3:5 4@?EC24E E@ s:8:E2= v2586ED[ H9@D6 @H?6C :D 2 >2;@C 5@?@C]k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmr2=:7@C?:2 A2:5 cdT =6DD A6C E6DE E92? }6H *@C< 5:5] x? }6H *@C<[ E96 E6DED H6C6 AFC492D65 E9C@F89 s:8:E2= v2586ED[ 2 4@>A2?J H9@D6 @H?6C 42? 36 4@??64E65 E@ Sb__[___ :? 5@?2E:@?D E@ w@49F=’D 42>A2:8?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 %:>6D\&?:@? :? p=32?J] %96 E6DED H6C6 AFC492D65 H96? E96 DE2E6’D 4@>A6E:E:G6 3:55:?8 AC@46DD 925 366? DFDA6?565] w@49F= D2:5 E96 DE2E6 ?66565 E6DED 7@C 49:=5C6? E@ 8@ 324< E@ D49@@= 27E6C 2 H:?E6C 3C62< H96? E96 @>:4C@? G2C:2?E H2D DAC625:?8] }6H *@C< AFC492D65 E96 E6DED 2E 2 E:>6 H96? E96J H6C6 :? D42C46 DFAA=J[ 23@FE E9C66 H66<D 367@C6 r2=:7@C?:2’D @C56C H2D A=2465] w@49F= 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J 92G6 56?:65 E96 A@=:E:42= 5@?2E:@?D 925 2?JE9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 AFC492D6 28C66>6?E] %9@F89 r2=:7@C?:2 A2:5 72C =6DD 7@C E96 D2>6 E6DED[ E96 ?6HDA2A6C 7@F?5 2 >F?:4:A2=:EJ :? |2DD249FD6EED E92E A2:5 D=:89E=J >@C6 E92? }6H *@C< 5:5]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mw@49F=i (92E H6 92G6 :? }6H *@C< $E2E6 :D D:>A=J 2 4@5:7:42E:@? @7 #@6 G] (256]k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmu24E\4964<D 2?5 @E96C C6A@CE:?8 @? E96 #6AC@5F4E:G6 w62=E9 p4E @7 a_`h 7@F?5 E92E E96 DE2E6 AFE :? A=246 2 =2H 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 564:D:@? :? #@6 G] (256] {2H>2<6CD 24E65 E96? :? 2?E:4:A2E:@? E92E E96 =2?5>2C< $FAC6>6 r@FCE 42D6 4@F=5 36 @G6CEFC?65] }6H *@C<’D =2H 2E E96 E:>6 DFAA=2?E65 2?@E96C =2H E92E @?=J 2==@H65 23@CE:@?D 27E6C ac H66<D :7 E96 >@E96C’D =:76 H2D 2E C:D<[ 3FE 5:5 ?@E E2<6 :?E@ 4@?D:56C2E:@? 96C 962=E9[ 2? :>A@CE2?E =682= 5:DE:?4E:@?[ @C H96E96C E96 76EFD :D ?@E G:23=6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m+6=5:?i x G@E65 E@ @G6CEFC? E96 a_a_ AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@? C6DF=ED 7C@> EH@ DE2E6D[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 2?5 pC:K@?2[ 2?5 5:5 D@ 3642FD6 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? D2JD E92E DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6D D6E E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 6=64E:@? =2H]k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmp7E6C E96 C:@E :? E96 &]$] r2A:E@= @? y2?] e[ +6=5:? G@E65 E@ @G6CEFC? E96 C6DF=ED @7 E96 6=64E:@? 7C@> EH@ DE2E6D[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 2?5 pC:K@?2] w6 D2:5 E92E E9@D6 DE2E6D 5:5?’E 7@==@H E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 3642FD6 492?86D E@ 6=64E:@? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H6C6 >256 3J A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6?’E DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD] %9@D6 DE2E6D H6C6 2=D@ 32EE=68C@F?5 DE2E6D H96C6 !C6D:56?E q:56? H@?[ DFCAC:D:?8 %CF>A DFAA@CE6CD]k^Am kAm%96 4@FCED 92G6 C6;64E65 E9:D 2C8F>6?E 7C@> +6=5:? 2?5 @E96C #6AF3=:42?D] uFCE96C>@C6[ 6IA6CED D2:5 E92E 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D 92G6 56D:8?2E65 2FE9@C:EJ E@ 7:== :? E96 82AD :? 6I:DE:?8 6=64E:@? =2H[ 2?5 E92E 6G6CJ 492?86 :? 6=64E:@? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? >FDE ?@E 8@ E9C@F89 DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6D] +6=5:?’D 4=2:> Q5C2HD @? 2 =682= 5@4EC:?6 32D65 @? 2 DEC:4E C625:?8 @7 pCE:4=6 a @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?] qFE :E :8?@C6D E92E 4@FCED 92G6 D9FE E96 5@@C @? 492==6?86D 32D65 @? 9:D 2C8F>6?E[ >256 :? 5@K6?D @7 =2HDF:ED 3J s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 9:D 2==:6D D66<:?8 E@ :?G2=:52E6 46CE:7:65 6=64E:@? C6DF=ED] xE 2=D@ :8?@C6D E92E D@>6 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D 92G6 A@H6CD E@ D6E CF=6D H:E9@FE =68:D=2E:G6 492?86D[ 6DA64:2==J 5FC:?8 6>6C86?4:6D[Q !@=:E:u24E HC@E6]k^Am 0 comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Rod Watson: What an election – the fabulists vs. the deaf-mutes The TV ad is everywhere – just as it would have you believe violent crime in New York is everywhere. Grainy clips, flashing by in rapid succes… In governor's race, ethics questions follow Hochul and Zeldin The campaigns of Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin are exchanging accusations of scandal as the unexpectedly competi… Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP Top Stories April 13 AP top stories April 12 AP top stories April 12 AP top stories April 10 AP top stories April 10 A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia
Rod Watson: What an election – the fabulists vs. the deaf-mutes The TV ad is everywhere – just as it would have you believe violent crime in New York is everywhere. Grainy clips, flashing by in rapid succes…
In governor's race, ethics questions follow Hochul and Zeldin The campaigns of Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin are exchanging accusations of scandal as the unexpectedly competi…