Democrat New York Gov.Kathy Hochul suggested Rep.
Elise Stefanik would have been a tougher Republican opponent than GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman this fall, prompting the Nassau County executive to fire back by comparing the incumbent to Disney villain Cruella de Vil while blasting her record.Hochul made the remarks during an interview with Newsday's editorial board after she was asked whether Stefanik, who publicly considered running for governor before declining, would have been a stronger general election opponent than Blakeman."Probably.I mean, Bruce is, you know, Bruce," Hochul said.NY GOVERNOR HOPEFUL VOWS SHOWDOWN WITH MAMDANI OVER SOCIALIST AGENDA: ‘I WILL STOP HIM’New York Gov.
Kathy Hochul holds media availability press conference and makes an announcement on abortion rights at the office on 633 3rd Avenue.(Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)The governor said Stefanik's national profile would have changed the dynamics of the race."She had the ability to raise a lot of money" because of her national following, Hochul said."It would have been a different race."HOCHUL PRESS OFFICE FEUDS WITH DAVE PORTNOY ON X AS CRITICS ROAST GOVERNOR IN HER OWN REPLIESNassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at podium, speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
(AP Photo/Philip Marcelo)Hochul added that she still believes she would have defeated Stefanik."Our polling shows us beating her as well," she said.Blakeman, however, accused Hochul of trying to distract from her record.BILL REPLACING 'MOTHER' AND 'FATHER' WITH GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMS PASSES IN NEW YORK, HEADS TO HOCHUL'S DESKCongresswoman Stefanik was seen widely as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the primary race before dropping out last December.(Getty Images)"Cruella de Vil is more likable than Kathy Hochul and her high taxes, high electric bills and soaring health care costs," Blakeman said in a statement to Fox News Digital.Fox News Di...