Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin agreed Sunday to debate Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The sole debate in the heated contest is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Zeldin, who had clamored for months for a face-off against Hochul, had harsh words for the incumbent.
“Kathy Hochul is a coward,” he said in a statement. “I have tirelessly called on Hochul to accept a series of debates on broadcast and across various media markets.
“The first question should be why Kathy Hochul thinks that the bare minimum, rock-bottom standard of a single cable debate for one hour after so many New Yorkers have already cast their vote is what she thinks the people of New York deserve,” Zeldin added.
Recent weeks have seen the race tightening between Zeldin, a current member of Congress representing a swath of Long Island, and Hochul, who ascended from lieutenant governor to governor after Andrew Cuomo resigned in August 2021.
Hochul campaign spokesman Jerrel Harvey took a zinger back at Zeldin.
“After months of hiding, we’re glad that Congressman Zeldin has finally agreed to participate in Tuesday’s debate,” Harvey said in a statement. “Governor Hochul looks forward to highlighting her strong record of delivering results and exposing Lee Zeldin’s dangerous lies.”
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