Despite loss, Zeldin remains proud of 'once-in-a-generation campaign'

Lee Zeldin looked back on his gubernatorial campaign after losing to incumbent Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, and hoped that Democrats in power change their policies on crime.

"I feel like the results showed how effective the campaign was reaching out beyond Republicans," Zeldin told the New York Post. "We’ll see what the final tally is. But the only way to come this close in the state like New York — one of the bluest states in the country — is to be able to connect with Democrats and independents as well." Ronn Blitzer is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics and breaking news. 

At last count, Zeldin had 2.6 million votes, more than any other Republican running for state office in New York. It is also more than the last Republican governor, George Pataki, garnered in each of his three election victories. The last time a Republican got more votes for governor was 52 years ago when Nelson Rockefeller got approximately 3 million votes when he was elected to each of his four terms.