The Cuomo machine that dominates NY state ran a terrible campaign primarily focusing on responding to Republican allegations they were "soft on crime". This was amplified by Eric Adams essentially writing GOP attack ads for them by emphasizing "rising crime" and criticizing the party in his own press releases to boost his own profile. This resulted in every county in the state moving significantly to the right, numerous Democratic representatives at the national and state level losing their seats (including the chairman of the DCCC) but Hochul surviving Zeldin's challenge.
In reality crime is still down compared to pre-pandemic except in homicide. And everywhere else in the country reformist candidates for DA won major victories, and Republicans running particularly outspoken "tough on crime" Willie Horton campaigns took huge Ls (such as in IL).
EDIT: Additionally, conservative judges appointed by Cuomo threw out a gerrymandered state map and ordered a new one drawn up by an independent commission, reverting back to the old map for this election. Republicans took 7 Congressional seats in NY by this map. The Cuomo machine quite literally cost the Democrats their House majority.
The Cuomo machine that dominates NY state ran a terrible campaign primarily focusing on responding to Republican allegations they were "soft on crime". This was amplified by Eric Adams essentially writing GOP attack ads for them by emphasizing "rising crime" and criticizing the party in his own press releases to boost his own profile. This resulted in every county in the state moving significantly to the right, numerous Democratic representatives at the national and state level losing their seats (including the chairman of the DCCC) but Hochul surviving Zeldin's challenge.
In reality crime is still down compared to pre-pandemic except in homicide. And everywhere else in the country reformist candidates for DA won major victories, and Republicans running particularly outspoken "tough on crime" Willie Horton campaigns took huge Ls (such as in IL).
EDIT: Additionally, conservative judges appointed by Cuomo threw out a gerrymandered state map and ordered a new one drawn up by an independent commission, reverting back to the old map for this election. Republicans took 7 Congressional seats in NY by this map. The Cuomo machine quite literally cost the Democrats their House majority.