Ted Cruz Urges New Yorkers to Vote Out Hochul, Bolster Blakeman

Sen. Ted Cruz is encouraging New York voters to elect Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman over incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, urging them to "shock the country" with their choice on November 3.

Appearing on WABC's "Cats Roundtable," Cruz characterized the Democratic Party as being overtaken by "radicals" whom he believes "hate America." He suggested that rejecting Hochul would be a significant step toward bringing the party back to a more moderate stance.

"New York, you got a big gubernatorial race," Cruz stated. "It would shock the country to see Kathy Hochul defeated. It would be a powerful statement. New York, you can make a statement to the whole country."

Despite Cruz's appeal, recent polling indicates that Hochul holds a comfortable lead over Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, in the traditionally Democratic-leaning state. Republicans, including former President Trump, have endorsed Blakeman in his bid to unseat the incumbent.

Cruz, who faced criticism during his 2016 presidential campaign for his remarks about "New York values," reiterated his concerns about the Democratic Party's perceived shift to the left. He also drew attention to a competitive Senate race in his home state of Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing state Rep. James Talarico. Cruz described the Texas race as "frightening," stating, "If Texas falls, the whole country falls," and urged supporters to contribute to the effort to defeat Talarico.

Democrats are reportedly anticipating a strong performance in the upcoming midterm elections, buoyed by historical trends that often favor the party not holding the White House and current voter concerns about economic issues. Cruz, however, suggested that the internal divisions within the Democratic Party could potentially benefit Republican candidates. He expressed a desire for a political landscape with two more reasonable and patriotic parties.