Wave watch: Crime message resonating for Republican in this deep-blue state

A random drive-by shooting on Sunday, when his 16-year-old twin daughters were inside the house, rocked the New York governor’s race and marked the second time this election season that violence has hit close to home for Zeldin. In July, a troubled veteran attacked the congressman on stage during a campaign rally in Rochester.

Zeldin and his family were unhurt in the incidents, but the events have elevated Zeldin’s tough-on-crime campaign message just weeks before he faces Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Nov. 8 election. His first act as governor, he said this week, would be to declare a state of emergency on crime and try to repeal many of her criminal justice policies.

“Whether I’m in a blue county or a red county or talking to Republicans, Democrats or independents, I hear about people who care about crime and public safety,” Zeldin said in an interview. “They want to take back our streets.”