NEW YORK CITY—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has defeated her Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) in a tighter-than-expected race in the Democrat stronghold.
According to a projection by Decision Desk HQ at 11:31 p.m. ET, Hochul has won the race with 54.2 percent, to Zeldin’s 45.8  percent, with 79 percent reporting as of midnight ET.
“I’m not here to make history. I’m here to make a difference,” Hochul said shortly after Fox called her the winner. She recalled how her parents “started out married life in a trailer park” but “rose up through hard work.”
“I’ve had the honor of a lifetime becoming the first woman to lead this state,” she said….