WASN'T.

WHY DEMOCRATS OUTPERFORMED EXPECTATIONS THIS ELECTION SEASON AND HOW GOVERNOR HOCHUL SURVIVED A REAL GOP THREAT.

>>> PLUS THE GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS ON LONG ISLAND AS THEY TRY TO WIN BACK CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS "METROFOCUS" ELECTION 2022 SPECIAL.

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

ALTHOUGH A NUMBER OF RACE RIGHT SIDE STILL OUTSTANDING AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE RED WAVE THAT MANY WERE PREDICTING AND EXPECTING HAS NOT MATERIALIZED.

MANY DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO HOLD ON IN TIGHT RACES AND HERE IN NEW YORK EVEN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE LEE ZELDIN SEEMED TO BE SURGING IN THE POLLS IN THE DAYS JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION.

HE WAS DEFEATED BY GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WHO IS NOW THE FIRST ELECTED WOMAN TO HOLD THE STATE'S HIGHEST OFFICE.

IN OTHER RACES HERE IN NEW YORK IT WASN'T ALL BAD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON LONG ISLAND SOME ARE SAYING THAT A MINI RED WAVE DID OCCUR WITH GOP CANDIDATES PERFORMING STRONGLY IN FOUR CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

JOINING US NOW TO GIVE US THEIR VIEW ON ALL THAT AND MORE, FORMER EXTRA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON AND FORMER REPUBLICAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND CURRENT NEW YORK POST COLUMNIST DR. BETSY McCAUGHEY.

THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU, IT'S A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY OLD FRIEND, GOVERNOR PATERSON.

>> ME, TOO.

HE IS AN OLD FRIEND, TOO.

>> AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD BETSY McCAUGHEY RAN AS A DEMOCRAT FOR GOVERNOR IN 1998.

>> WOW.

>> GOOD JOB.

I THINK WE NEEDED TO GET TO KNOW HER A LITTLE BETTER, BUT SHE DID VERY WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO, MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RED WAVE?

WHY DIDN'T IT MATERIALIZE?

>> WELL, IT WAS UNLIKELY HAPPENING IN NEW YORK.

I'M A SILVER LINING GIRL SO LET ME POINT OUT WHAT DID HAPPEN FROM THE REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW AND THAT IS THAT LEE ZELDIN, WHO WAS RUNNING TO BECOME THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN 20 YEARS, CAME CLOSER THAN ANY OF HIS PREDECESSORS DID OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.

THE REGISTRATION IN NEW YORK IS TWO TO ONE IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRATS AND YET GOVERNOR HOCHUL WON BY ONLY 10%.

SO THAT WAS A RATHER GOOD SHOWING FOR LEE ZELDIN.

THERE IS A RULE OF THUMB IN NEW YORK POLITICS THAT TO WIN STATEWIDE AS A REPUBLICAN, 70% OF THE VOTES HAVE TO COME FROM OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY AND THE FACT IS THAT NEW YORK CITY HAD A BIG TURNOUT, THAT HELPED GOVERNOR HOCHUL, AND YET YOU CAN SEE ON LONG ISLAND THERE WERE SOME BIG WINS DOWN BALLOT FOR REPUBLICANS AND OVERALL THE REPUBLICANS DID BETTER THAN MANY EVEN-HANDED PREDICTORS WOULD HAVE PREDICTED.

>> SO WHAT ABOUT THE RED WAVE NOT HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

AS YOU KNOW, AS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT ALL THIS MORNING, A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, HIS INSISTENCE THAT RADICAL REPUBLICANS WIN IN THE PRIMARIES AND HIS VERY PRESENCE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE ANSWER.

I WOULD SAY THIS, THE UNITED STATES IS A VERY EVENLY DIVIDED NATION AND SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER WILL HOLD THE HOUSE BY JUST A COUPLE OF SEATS AND IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL NOW BE HOLDING THE HOUSE BY A COUPLE OF SEATS, WHEREAS NANCY PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS HELD THE HOUSE BY JUST A FEW SEATS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THE SENATE, LIKE WISE, IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL, IT WAS 50/50 BEFORE THE ELECTION AND WHO KNOWS WHAT IT WILL BE AFTER THE ELECTION.

THERE'S STILL SOME CHANCE THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE THE SENATE.

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

AND THE RESULTS WON'T BE IN FROM ARIZONA, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

SO THIS IS A DIVIDED NATION AND THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION REFLECT THAT.

>> SO, GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM LEADING UP TO THE ELECTIONS WAS THAT DEMOCRATS HAD MADE A MISTAKE BY FOCUSING ON ABORTION RIGHTS AND THE PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRACY WITH A FOCUS ON TRUMP AND JANUARY 6, INSTEAD OF WHAT ALL THE POLLS WERE SAYING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO VOTERS, THE ECONOMY, INFLATION AND IN SOME CASES CRIME.

WAS THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WRONG OR DID THE DEMOCRATS WIN DESPITE NOT FOCUSING ON WHAT THE POLLS WERE SAYING WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO THE VOTERS?

>> THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WAS RIGHT AT THE TIME.

SO AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN ROE v. WADE BACK IN JUNE, THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT DEMOCRATS CHAMPIONED AND DID VERY WELL IN THE JUNE PRIMARIES HERE IN NEW YORK AND THEN ALSO IN THE AUGUST PRIMARIES IN NEW YORK AND THERE WAS EVEN A PUBLIC REFERENDUM THAT WAS WON IN THE STATE OF KANSAS THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS TALKED ABOUT, HOWEVER, I THINK THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT REALLY MADE CRIME FRONT AND CENTER, THE FIRST ONE IS COMPARED TO 30 YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS A BIG CRIME WAVE IN NEW YORK, THE CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED THEN REALLY RELATED TO CRACK, CRACK CAME INTO THE NEW YORK AREA AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY IN 1985-1986 AND IT TOOK SEVEN TO TEN YEARS TO GET RID OF IT.

2,000 PEOPLE WERE DYING EVERY YEAR, BUT IT WAS COMPARTMENTALIZED INTO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO SO LONG AS YOU STAY OUT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS YOU PROBABLY WERE OKAY.

NOW WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE MAJOR FIGURES IN THE STATE, THE WOMAN WHO RAN THE MTA, THE WOMAN WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY, BOTH WERE ASSAULTED, ONE ON PARK AVENUE AND ONE ON FIFTH AVENUE, AND THEN A MAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 62nd STREET AND PARK AVENUE RESTAURANT.

SO THAT REALLY ELEVATED THE CRIME.

THE OTHER THING THAT MADE IT DIFFERENT IS WE USED TO MARRY ABOUT CRIME ON THE RADIO AND SEE ARTIST SKETCHES OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS ON TELEVISION, BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS WE SEE THE ACTUAL CRIMES.

I SAW ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SHOVED ON THE SUBWAY TRACKS, ONE FATALLY, RIGHT ON TELEVISION AND IT PUTS A THOUGHT IN YOUR HEAD AND THERE IS A FEAR FACTOR THAT KICKED IN THAT MAYBE IT TOOK A MINUTE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO KIND OF MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT, BUT SHE DID MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AND WAS ABLE TO WIN THE RACE.

>> I AM SO GLAD THAT GOVERNOR PATERSON IS RAISING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE CRIME IS THE TOP CONCERN FOR NEW YORKERS AND I THINK IT'S THE REASON THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL ONLY WON BY 10% IN A STATE AS SOLIDLY BLUE AS NEW YORK AND I HOPE SHE WILL TAKE THE MESSAGE BACK TO ALBANY THAT WE REALLY WANT CASH BAIL RETURNED TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM, WE WANT PERPETRATORS WHO ARE ARRESTED WHO HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD OF VIOLENCE TO BE KEPT IN JAIL UNTIL THEIR TRIALS OR PUT OUT WITH HUGE CASH BAIL REQUIREMENTS, AND WE WANT ALVIN BRAGG, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM MANHATTAN WHO REFUSES TO JAIL PERPS FIRED.

>> WELL, SHE'S NOT LIKELY TO DO THAT BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY.

>> WELL, AFTER AN ELECTION IT'S A LOT EASIER TO MAKE TOUGH CALLS THAN BEFORE AN ELECTION.

>> THAT'S TRUE, TOO.

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT IN THE CASE OF GOVERNOR PATAKI, WHO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SERVED WITH, HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE BRONX, ROBERT JOHNSON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ROBERT JOHNSON MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ANY DEATH PENALTY CASES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A DEATH PENALTY STATUTE IN THE STATE.

WHAT GOVERNOR PATAKI DID WAS HE REMOVED ALL OF THE DEATH PENALTY CASES FROM JOHNSON AND HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO PROSECUTE OR TOUCH THEM UNTIL BOTH OF THEM WENT OUT OF OFFICE.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE DAs BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU CAN JUST START FIRING PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THEM AND THAT'S NOT -- >> WELL, LET'S LET ALVIN BRAGG JUST HANDLE THE TRAFFIC STOPS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

>> AND ANOTHER DA TO HANDLE EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE TO MOVE ON AND WE WILL GET TO NEW YORK STATE AND MANY OTHER ISSUES, BUT LET'S STAY IN THE NATION AND THE NATIONAL SCENE FOR ONE MORE SECOND.

GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, GOVERNOR, DO YOU THINK -- GIVEN WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE, DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD SEE THIS AS A CERTAIN DEGREE OF VICTORY OR A VINDICATION AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT WILL AFFECT THE LAST YEAR OF HIS FIRST TERM?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WHERE THERE WERE LOSSES THAT THE MAJOR ISSUE HERE WAS THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION AND A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MADE ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO BE THE CATALYST FOR THESE PROBLEMS THAT AMERICANS ARE HAVING EVERY DAY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE, HOW TO PAY THEIR RENT OR MORTGAGE AND HOW TO GET THEIR CHILDREN EDUCATED.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS DOOMED IN 1994 WHEN THERE WAS A STRONG RED WAVE THAT WON 67 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS DONE AFTER 2010 WHEN THE REPUBLICANS DID EVEN BETTER THAN THEY DID IN 1994.

SO THE PRESIDENT IS USUALLY TAKING A BEATING AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS IS THE CONFIDENCE NOT JUST THAT THE COUNTRY HAS, BUT EVEN THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS IN HIS ABILITY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> SO -- >> LET ME JUST JUMP IN FOR ONE MOMENT ON THAT ISSUE, TOO, AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO HEAR GOVERNOR PATERSON TALK BECAUSE HE HAS A REALLY ENCYCLOPEDIC KNOWLEDGE OF POLITICAL HISTORY.

I SO ENJOY BEING ON THIS SHOW WITH HIM.

LET ME POINT OUT THAT THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE LIKELY SECURED EVEN THE SLIMMEST MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE IS A BIG GAIN IN TERMS OF INFLATION BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A FIRE WALL AGAINST THE ENACTMENT OF ANY MORE MULTITRILLION DOLLAR SPENDING OR HANDOUT BILLS, ALMOST ALL ECONOMISTS AGREE THAT THOSE HANDOUTS, THOSE BIDEN BUCKS, HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON PUSHING UP INFLATION.

TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS, RIGHT?

ALMOST THE DEFINITION OF INFLATION.

AND SO WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE SENATE OR NOT, THAT FIRE WALL WILL LIKELY HELP THE COUNTRY TAME INFLATION.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GO TO NEW YORK AND LET ME STAY WITH YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL AS WE KNOW IS LIKE YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND BECAME GOVERNOR BECAUSE AFTER GOVERNOR CUOMO RESIGNED, NOW SHE IS THERE IN HER OWN RIGHT.

HOW WILL THAT CHANGE?

YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS.

HOW WILL THAT CHANGE THE WAY SHE GOVERNS, THE FACT THAT SHE WAS ELECTED ON HER OWN TERMS?

>> WELL, SHE HAS MORE POLITICAL CAPITAL TO START OUT.

THAT MEANS SHE CAN DEMAND MORE FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND AS I SUGGESTED JUST A MOMENT AGO, IN THE HONEYMOON AFTER THE ELECTION MAKE SOME TOUGH CALLS, AND ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE I REALLY HOPE SHE WILL.

>> SO, GOVERNOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TALKED TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL OR HAVE OFFERED HER ANY ADVICE, BUT IF SHE ASKS FOR IT AND IF YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN IT, WHAT IS THAT ADVICE?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

NOW THAT SHE'S THE GOVERNOR, THEY'VE GOT TO LIVE WITH HER FOR FOUR YEARS AND SHE CAN MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

SHE SORT OF -- SHE HELD THE BUDGET UP FOR NINE DAYS THIS YEAR TO KIND OF SEND A LITTLE MESSAGE TO THEM, BUT I THINK THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE DISUNITY IN THE PARTY WHEN SHE WAS NOT AS I WAS NOT ELECTED.

SHE WANTED TO HAVE THAT UNDER HER BELT AND AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID, THAT GIVES HER GREATER POLITICAL CAPITAL.

ALSO I THINK THAT NOW THAT ONE OF THE HOUSES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS LOST ITS VETO-PROOF MAJORITY -- >> THE SENATE.

>> THE SENATE.

THAT IN ITSELF SETS UP A FIRE WALL AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DESCRIBED IN CONGRESS THAT ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT EASY TO ROLL OVER THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, AS HAPPENED YEARS BEFORE.

WE ROLLED OVER GOVERNOR PATAKI IN 2002 AND OVERRODE 119 OF HIS VETOES, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT NOW BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE HOUSE INTERACTING.

SO I THINK THAT SHE'S REALLY STARTING IN A SENSE WITH A CLEAN SLATE.

SHE CAN NOW START AND DO WHAT SHE THINKS IS IMPORTANT AND SHE CERTAINLY EARNED IT.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE SENATE LOST ITS SUPER MAJORITY, THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY CONTINUES TO HAVE A COMMAND AND CONTROL OVER THE LEGISLATURE IN ALBANY.

GIVEN THE RESULTS, THOUGH, AND GIVEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT LEFTWARD MOVEMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN ALBANY SINCE 2018, IS THAT GOING TO CONTINUE OR IS THAT GOING TO BE MODIFIED IN SOME SENSE, GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MODIFIED IN SOME SENSE.

IN THE PRIMARIES THERE WERE NINE RACES WHERE A LEFTISH/SOCIALIST CANDIDATE RAN AGAINST THE INCUMBENT AND THE INCUMBENT WON EIGHT OF THEM.

WHEN AOC WON -- AND I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM HER, SHE WORKED VERY HARD, SHE'S VERY ARTICULATE AND EXPRESSES HER POINTS OF VIEW VERY WELL, HOWEVER, SHE BEAT A CONGRESSMAN THAT NO ONE IN HIS DISTRICT HAD SEEN FOR 20 YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WERE VERY SMART, THEY PICKED OUT AREAS, THERE WAS A SITUATION IN HARLEM WHERE THE ELECTED OFFICIAL AT THE TIME WAS HAVING SOME REAL PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AND A STAFF MEMBER RAN AGAINST HIM, THAT OPENED THE DOOR AND THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WON.

SO I THINK THAT EVEN THEY SORT OF SEE THAT THE PARTY IS GOING TO BE OVER IN MANY OF THEM.

>> DO YOU AGREE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> MAY I JUST SUGGEST WHILE SHE HAS THIS POLITICAL CAPITAL, AND IT DOESN'T LAST THAT LONG, BY THE WAY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS SHE COULD DO THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE VERY REWARDING FOR HER BASE, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS.

SHE COULD LIFT THE CAL ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.

I WAS JUST LOOKING LAST NIGHT AS WE WERE WAITING FOR THE RETURNS TO COME IN AND NEW YORK SPENDS BY FAR THE MOST PER PUPIL OF ANY STATE IN THE NATION BUT WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES EXCEPT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT FOR THE MOST PART ARE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL.

INNER CITY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SUBURBS AND DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OF WHERE THEY CAN SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE STUCK WITH THE SCHOOL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IF IT'S A FAILING SCHOOL CHARTER SCHOOLS GIVE THEM A PUBLIC SCHOOL ALTERNATIVE WHERE THEIR CHILDREN CAN SUCCEED AND I HOPE THAT KATHY HOCHUL WILL BUCK THE TEACHERS UNION AND REALLY LOOK OUT FOR HER CONSTITUENTS WHO NEED CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT I ALWAYS SAW THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AS A LABORATORY.

WE WILL NEVER REALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PUT ALL THE STUDENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOL -- CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOWEVER, WE CAN LEARN FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

MANY OF THEM DON'T EVEN START SCHOOL UNTIL 9:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN ALL -- WHEN ALL ANALYSES AND ALL TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE BRAIN OF A YOUNG PERSON DOESN'T REALLY GET STARTED UNTIL ABOUT 9:00 IN THE MORNING.

IN ADDITION WE WILL KEEP THEM UNTIL 6:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

WHY ARE WE LETTING STUDENTS OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AT 2:30 AND 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN PARENTS ARE ALL WORKING, THERE ARE VERY FEW STAY AT HOME MOMS OR DADS.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN AS TEENAGERS AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT THAT LEADS TO THE GREATEST PROBLEMS THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE, IT'S NOT EVEN IN SCHOOL, IT'S AFTER SCHOOL.

>> YOU KNOW, DAVID AND I -- GOVERNOR PATERSON AND I WERE TALK ABOUT THIS AT LUNCH YESTERDAY, LONG BEFORE WE GOT TOGETHER WITH YOU, RAFAEL, AND WE WERE APPLAUDING HOW IDEAL IT WOULD BE IF SOMEHOW THE TEACHERS UNION AND THE LEGISLATURE SO RANGE THE HOURS OF PUBLIC COOLS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT GOVERNOR PATERSON KEEPS RAISING, THAT THE SCHOOLS SHOULD START LATER AND KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL UNTIL THE END OF THE WORKING DAY SO THEY WON'T GET INTO SO MUCH TROUBLE.

>> RAFAEL -- >> THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

YES?

>> IT'S TIME FOR ME TO RETIRE.

I FINALLY FOUND ANOTHER CIVIC LEADER WHO AGREED WITH ME ON THIS POINT WHEN IT'S SO OBVIOUS IT SEEMS TO ME ANYBODY WOULD -- >> RIGHT.

AND PARENTS WOULD LOVE IT.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES AND I WANT TO GET TO SOME OTHER RACES IN NEW YORK AND QUICKLY.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I WILL GO TO YOU WITH THIS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

CONGRESSMAN SEAN PATRICK MAHONEY, HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN DSH -- >> BIG UPSET.

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET, BUT HE IS THE PERSON IN CHARGE -- >> NO, HE IS CONSIDERED -- RAFAEL, HE'S CONCEDED.

>> HE HAS CONCEDED.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> IT WAS A TIGHT RACE, BUT A BIG UPSET.

AND LET ME GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

I WAS WATCHING THAT RACE VERY CLOSELY LAST NIGHT FOR EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW, SEAN PATRICK MALONEY IS UP IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND HE WAS CHALLENGED BY A VERY ATTRACTIVE CAPABLE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE MIKE LAWLER AND IT DOES MATTER WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE, THAT'S WHAT MADE THIS RACE SUCH A NAIL BITER.

SEAN PATRICK MALONEY IS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL AND HIGH-PROFILE DEMOCRAT THAT TO SEE HIM DEFEATED TO ME WAS A SIGN, OH, THERE IS SOME REAL MOVEMENT FOR REPUBLICANS -- >> WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IS INFLATION, VERY BIG ISSUE UP THERE, CRIME HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE, NOT JUST IN NEW YORK CITY, BUT UPSTATE AS WELL.

HUDSON VALLEY, SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER HAS THE HIGHEST CRIME OF ANY CITY -- ANY CITY -- IN NEW YORK STATE.

NUMBER TWO, SYRACUSE.

NOT NEW YORK CITY.

SO CRIME IS A VERY BIG ISSUE.

MIKE LAWLER MADE IT A VERY BIG ISSUE AND HE SUCCEEDED.

>> SO -- >> AND ONE OTHER ISSUE WAS THAT THE REAPPORTIONMENT ADDED TO THE PROBLEMS THAT CONGRESSMAN MALONEY WAS GOING TO HAVE.

>> AND HE RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BY MOVING -- MOVING HIMSELF FROM THE DISTRICT THAT HE RENTED TO THE 17th BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE EASIER ONE AND APPARENTLY IT WASN'T.

I MEAN, SOME DEMOCRATS ARE PROBABLY NOT THAT SAD TODAY UNFORTUNATELY.

>> IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO A NICER GUY.

>> AS I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION, I WON'T TOUCH THAT WITH A 10 FOOT HOLE.

AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION SOME ARE SAYING THAT THERE WAS A KIND OF MINI RED WAVE IN LONG ISLAND, I WON'T MENTION NAMES BUT THERE WERE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL RACES, THREE OF THEM, I THINK, ARE WON OUTRIGHT.

YOU KEEP ME UP TO DATE, GOVERNOR, BECAUSE I MAY BE A LITTLE OUT OF THE LOOP ON THIS ONE, TOO, AND ONE IS STILL TO BE DECIDED ALTHOUGH THE REPUBLICAN IS LEADING BY A LOT.

IF THOSE HOLD, TWO OF THOSE ARE PICK-UPS.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR LONG ISLAND, FOR NEW YORK AND FOR THE COUNTRY?

>> WELL, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING THAT ALTHOUGH CONGRESSMAN ZELDIN DIDN'T WIN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, THAT THE FERVOR THAT HE INSPIRED ENABLED SOME REPUBLICANS TO WIN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE SO I THINK THEY OWE HIM FOR THE EFFORTS THAT HE MADE.

BY THE WAY, ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK HE DIDN'T WIN IS THAT HE HAD TO COUNTERBALANCE SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE MADE AGAINST HIM BY DOING SOME THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE AND HONESTLY THE WIZARD, THE ONE WHO ALWAYS FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET DEMOCRATS ON HIS OR HER SIDE WERE GOVERNOR PATAKI AND BETSY McCAUGHEY WHEN SHE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY THAT MUCH, YOU DIDN'T HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT STATE PROGRAMS TO COMBAT INFLATION, YOU DIDN'T HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND HONESTLY THAT'S WHY I THINK HE WASN'T ABLE TO RUN UP THE SCORE EVEN IN HIS BACKYARD.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER RACES THAT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING IN THIS STATE OR EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT OUTSTANDING THAT PARTICULARLY CAPTURED YOUR ATTENTION OR IS THAT YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT?

AND I'D LIKE BOTH OF YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU FIRST.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, AS I SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, I'M A SILVER LINING GIRL AND I LIKE IT WHEN THE STATE HAS MORE COMPETITION.

NEW YORK HAS SUFFERED FROM BEING A ONE-PARTY STATE AND I THINK GOVERNOR PATERSON WOULD AGREE WITH THAT EVEN THOUGH HE IS A DEMOCRAT.

NEW YORK HAS SUFFERED FROM BEING A ONE-PARTY STATE.

WE HAVE BETTER GOVERNMENT WHEN WE HAVE TWO VIABLE PARTIES.

SO TO SEE SOME REPUBLICANS ON LONG ISLAND, IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND ELSEWHERE DO REALLY WELL, TO SEE THE SCORE EVEN UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY AND TO SEE A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AT LEAST COME WITHIN SHOOTING DISTANCE.

>> WHEN I LEFT -- >> IT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

>> WHEN I LEFT OFFICE -- I MEAN, WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE I HELPED THE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE SENATE WIN THE MAJORITY IN 2008.

I ACTUALLY GAVE THEM ALL THE MONEY I RAISED TO WIN THE MAJORITY AND AS VOLTAIRE ONCE WROTE, SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE AND YOU'VE MADE A PERMANENT ENEMY.

ONE PARTY RULE CAN CREATE A WHOLE LOT OF PROBLEMS.

AND THEN JUST REMEMBER WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WON IN 2016, HE HAD THE PROBLEM IN 2017 BECAUSE REPUBLICANS RAN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND HE WAS THE PRESIDENT AND HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM, TOO.

SO IT'S USUALLY BETTER -- I MEAN, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO WIN, BUT IT'S USUALLY BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A BALANCE AND YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR DEMOCRACY UNIQUE AMONG ALL OF THE OTHERS IN THE WORLD.

>> IF I COULD GO BACK TO THE NATIONAL LOOK, THE BIG PICTURE.

>> YES.

>> ASIDE FROM THE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE ABLE TO AVOID A RED WAVE YESTERDAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE BIGGEST WINNER OF ALL WAS GOVERNOR DeSANTIS IN FLORIDA BECAUSE HE HAD A RED TSUNAMI -- TSUNAMI IN FLORIDA, WON BY 20% ALMOST.

IN NORMAL TIMES HE WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE FRONT RUNNER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL -- REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN TWO YEARS.

THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING HIS DECISION TO RUN AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND -- >> WELL, BEFORE WE GET TO THE PARTY LET ME SAY WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEW YORKERS BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING SITUATION.

REMEMBER THAT FOUR YEARS AGO DeSANTIS WON BY LESS THAN 1%.

I BELIEVE IT WAS A QUARTER OF A PERCENT.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS TIME HE RAN, HE WON BY VIRTUALLY A LANDSLIDE.

>> 20%.

>> MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, PALM BEACH COUNTY, A LOT OF COUNTIES THAT DON'T USUALLY GO REPUBLICAN.

AND ONE REASON IS SO MANY DISCONTENTED NEW YORKERS MOVED TO FLORIDA.

SO I'D LIKE THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FLORIDA POLICIES THAT DeSANTIS HAS -- DeSANTIS HAS PUT INTO PLACE OR CONTINUED, INCLUDING LOW TAXES, BUT ALSO SMART SPENDING.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT FLORIDA PROVIDES SERVICES TO ITS RESIDENTS, ALL KINDS OF STATE SERVICES, AT ONE HALF THE COST OF NEW YORK.

NEW YORK HAS A SMALLER POPULATION, BUT ITS STATE BUDGET IS OVER TWICE AS BIG.

>> BUT QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, IS THIS GOING TO ROYAL THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES?

>> I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A BENCH, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE COMPETITION, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE STARS AND YOU HAVE SEVERAL -- SEVERAL STARS ON THE HORIZON IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT AND, GOVERNOR, I WANT TO ASK THIS TO BOTH OF YOU IN A MINUTE.

WHAT DO THESE RESULTS SAY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE NATION AND THE STATE OF THE STATE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY -- THE REASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNOR GOT BY BEING REELECTED IS GOING TO GIVE HER -- I THINK BOTH OF US AGREED ABOUT THIS -- GREATER OPPORTUNITY AND GREATER CAPITAL TO TRY TO -- TO PUT A LOT OF HER IDEAS INTO AFFIRMATIVE WORKABLE SENSIBLE CHANGES FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT, YES, I'M HOPING THAT SHE USES HER POLITICAL CAPITAL TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY POPULAR WITH THE LEFT OF HER PARTY, SHE HAD TO APPEAL TO THEM TO GET ELECTED, BUT REALLY ARE SO NEEDED BY NEW YORKERS, INCLUDING TOUGHER POSITIONS ON CRIME AND MORE SENSIBLE SPENDING AND MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL SEE IF ALL THAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU BOTH, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, AGAIN, AND AN HONOR TO SPEAKER.

>> TO YOU ABOUT THIS AND THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, RAFAEL.

♪ >>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- ♪ ♪ ♪