Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, would narrowly defeat incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in a potential head-to-head matchup, according to a new poll from the conservative Manhattan Institute.
The survey shows Stefanik leading Hochul by one point, 43% to 42%, among registered voters. The same poll found Stefanik with a wider lead — 43% to 37% — over Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who is challenging Hochul in the Democratic primary.
An internal poll released earlier this month by a political action committee aligned with Stefanik showed a tighter race, with Hochul leading 48% to 43%. However, that poll also indicated that Stefanik would edge out Hochul, 46.4% to 45.9%, if voters were informed that the governor had endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the progressive frontrunner in this year’s New York City mayoral race.
To be sure, this is nothing short of a political nightmare for Democrats – who, by the way, are in danger of losing the governor’s race in neighboring blue New Jersey too, by the way.
Stefanik is widely expected to enter the New York gubernatorial race but has not yet formally launched a campaign. In response to the Manhattan Institute poll, her congressional campaign issued the following statement:
In a heavily Democrat leaning state, an independent poll that is heavily weighted towards registered Democrat voters shows Republican Elise Stefanik leading Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul in a head to head match up.
This marks the first time in decades that any potential Republican gubernatorial candidate (and in this case, the likely nominee) is polling ahead of a Democrat incumbent Governor, even before any official announcement.
In a decision that she will come to regret, Kathy Hochul lives up to her title as the Worst Governor in America when she chose to bend the knee and put New Yorkers LAST by desperately endorsing the Defund the Police, tax hiking, raging Antisemite Socialist Zohran Mamdani who will destroy New York.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, would narrowly defeat incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in a potential head-to-head matchup, according to a new poll from the conservative Manhattan Institute.
The survey shows Stefanik leading Hochul by one point, 43% to 42%, among registered voters. The same poll found Stefanik with a wider lead — 43% to 37% — over Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who is challenging Hochul in the Democratic primary.
An internal poll released earlier this month by a political action committee aligned with Stefanik showed a tighter race, with Hochul leading 48% to 43%. However, that poll also indicated that Stefanik would edge out Hochul, 46.4% to 45.9%, if voters were informed that the governor had endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the progressive frontrunner in this year’s New York City mayoral race.
To be sure, this is nothing short of a political nightmare for Democrats – who, by the way, are in danger of losing the governor’s race in neighboring blue New Jersey too, by the way.
Stefanik is widely expected to enter the New York gubernatorial race but has not yet formally launched a campaign. In response to the Manhattan Institute poll, her congressional campaign issued the following statement:
In a heavily Democrat leaning state, an independent poll that is heavily weighted towards registered Democrat voters shows Republican Elise Stefanik leading Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul in a head to head match up.
This marks the first time in decades that any potential Republican gubernatorial candidate (and in this case, the likely nominee) is polling ahead of a Democrat incumbent Governor, even before any official announcement.
In a decision that she will come to regret, Kathy Hochul lives up to her title as the Worst Governor in America when she chose to bend the knee and put New Yorkers LAST by desperately endorsing the Defund the Police, tax hiking, raging Antisemite Socialist Zohran Mamdani who will destroy New York.
Bell garnered 54.9% of the vote, while Bush could only manage 41.8%, a clear indication that her support had significantly dwindled. The race was called by Decision Desk HQ after polls closed, and the results were quick to ignite a firestorm of reactions, particularly from Republican figures who wasted no time mocking Bush’s loss.Wesley Bell, a former prosecutor, emerged as a formidable challenger for Bush. His leadership in St. Louis County has made him a respected figure in local politics, and his win over Bush in the primary reflects a growing desire for change within Missouri’s Democratic Party.Bell’s focus on criminal justice reform and his track record as a prosecutor who had worked to reduce mass incarceration struck a chord with voters, especially in light of Bush’s increasingly controversial stances.Bell’s victory marks a critical shift in the political dynamic of Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, which covers St. Louis City and parts of St. Louis County. As the city grapples with rising crime and calls for police reform, Bell’s message of pragmatic change appears to have resonated more deeply with voters than Bush’s more radical approach to governance.
In the aftermath of Bush’s defeat, Republicans took to social media to mock and ridicule her political loss. Pro-Trump comedian Terrance K. Williams shared his glee over the result, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “A ‘BLACK JOB’ IS SOMETHING CORI BUSH DOES NOT HAVE. OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY. She is the Second Squad member to lose her seat! I can’t wait until they are all gone. They are all full of hate and stupidity. I’m laughing so hard. Who’s laughing with me?”Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, known for his sharp criticism of Bush during their time together on the House Judiciary Committee, also took a jab at her defeat. Gaetz tweeted, “I will miss Cori Bush missing every committee meeting.”His sarcastic comment highlighted the growing frustration among Republicans over Bush’s absence from important committee work, further intensifying the mockery of her loss.
Ryan Fournier, a co-founder of the Students for Trump group, added his own taunt, posting, “The Squad’s Cori Bush has LOST her primary. Join me in saying GOOD RIDDANCE! Hamas might be hiring, Cori!”This comment referenced Bush’s controversial stances on the Israel-Hamas conflict, which have earned her the ire of both her political opponents and many within her own party.Actor Michael Rapaport, a vocal supporter of Israel, also weighed in on Bush’s defeat, taking to social media to express his satisfaction. Rapaport posted, “Tonight at the rally they said let’s bring back ‘JOY’ to politics and boom CORI BUSH is done with Politics…. I feel JOY all of a sudden.”His sarcastic tone underscored the widespread sentiment among Bush’s critics, who saw her defeat as a victory for traditional political norms.Cori Bush’s political career has been marked by bold stances on a range of issues, from police reform to her support of progressive causes like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin believes the federal government shutdown could end this week as Democrats look for an “exit ramp.”During an interview on Fox News, Mullin told host Kellyanne Conway that he believes the government shutdown will likely end after Tuesday’s elections, estimating it to reopen either Wednesday or Thursday.
“Where they went through the rally they realize that their base was only more dog in so now. What the Democrats are literally tell us telling us this. They plan on shut, open it back out, probably Wednesday or Thursday after the after the the election after they elect a communist in New York to be the mayor after the New Jersey’s governor toro race, Virginia governor’s race they’re, going to come out, they’re going to look for an exit ramp because they know their lose and shoot,” Mullin predicted.
“Even CNN’s polls are showing that the that this isn’t good for them. They, they American people, have already been exposed to. You know Congress, one Clark or congresswoman Clark by saying that this is a leverage point for them. He had yeah Chuck Schumer saver days, getting better for them,” Mullin said.
“Head, centered or coons from Delaware goes out and says it’s uncomfortable. But it’s leverage point in even Bernie Sanders goes out and says they can’t open it back up because they lose leverage, but they also know that need to exit ramps,” he continued.
Mullin added, “So after the election, Kelly and they’re going to come out in at that point, you’re going to go out there and well that they’re gonna take the high road, they’re going to try spinning and on President Trump and the Republicans and after they get on talk in their way. Out of, I don’t know themselves, they’re gonna, eventually open it up, probably Thursday, I’d say midday.”
Notable elections that day include the New York City mayoral race and gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.Proposition 50 is on the ballot in California, which concerns the Democrats’ proposed redistricting map.
“My opinion is: They’re setting everything up for this week. They know they’ve got to get out,” Mullins said.
He continued, “If they do it before Tuesday, then their base may not show up because it looks like they caved,” noting that Election Day is going to be a real marker for negotiations.
“That’s why they’re setting everything up to open next week. We’ll be open Wednesday, or Wednesday night, or Thursday,” he said.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien on Thursday called for an immediate end to the government shutdown, warning that the standoff is hurting the U.S. aviation industry and working families across the country.
Standing outside the West Wing of the White House, O’Brien was joined by Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in urging Congress — particularly Senate Democrats — to “end the shutdown” and pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
O’Brien, who leads the 1.4 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has recently cast himself as an independent force in national politics, breaking from both parties when he believes workers are being used as leverage.
“We took a position three weeks ago,” O’Brien said. “Pass a clean CR, get to the table, negotiate a deal. Do not put working people in the middle of a problem. They should not be in there.”
He said the shutdown’s impact goes far beyond politics, noting that thousands of working families are already feeling the strain of missed paychecks and halted operations.
“And we have got to think about the families that are going to be affected,” O’Brien said. “Think about when you have to tell your son or daughter they can’t play sports because you’re not getting paid. Think about when you can’t pay your mortgage. Think about when you can’t pay your tuition.”
The union chief’s remarks came as the shutdown entered its second month, with SNAP benefits paused and air traffic control staffing stretched thin.