(The Center Square) — As she weighs a run for New York governor in 2026, Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is leading a new push in Congress to repeal the state's cash bail restrictions and is blaming incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul's policies for allowing dangerous criminals to be released before trial.
Stefanik's push for a repeal of the bail laws comes after President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is deploying the National Guard in Washington, D.C, and taking over the city’s police department to end crime and homelessness. Trump said "no cash" bail laws in NYC and other Democratic-controlled cities are contributing to crime in urban America, and he wants a federal ban.
“I strongly support President Trump’s law and order directive in Washington, D.C.," Stefanik said in a social media post. "Just like Washington, D.C., New York’s failed cashless bail law fuels devastating crime that harms law-abiding families and emboldens violent criminals. The radical, dangerous, and insane criminals and illegals first policies must end NOW. We need law and order that puts America First!"
New York eliminated bail for most nonviolent felony charges in 2020 as part of overhauling the criminal justice system. A series of high-profile murders and shootings across the state prompted Hochul and others to call for tightening pre-detention bail laws.
A provision tucked into the two-year $229 billion budget signed by Hochul in April included changes to the system that gives New York state judges more discretion to keep dangerous suspects locked up ahead of trial.
Hochul's plan was met with resistance from progressive Democrats in the state legislature, who argued that stricter bail laws would roll back years of criminal justice reforms. Democrats pulled her plan from their versions of the state budget, but Hochul was able to get part of the proposal back into play during negotiations with legislative leaders.
Hochul is facing a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who left her administration earlier this year to run for the top job. Stefanik is expected to jump into the race after Rep. Mike Lawler, a Hudson Valley Republican, said he will be seeking reelection in the congressional seat in next year's midterms, not running for governor.
Meanwhile, a Siena College poll shows that while Hochul still has a sizable lead over the field of candidates expected to challenge her in the 2026 race for governor, Stefanik is rapidly gaining ground in the gubernatorial race. Hochul’s lead over Stefanik is only 14 points, 45%-31%, down from 23 points in June, according to pollsters.
"More than two-thirds of Democrats are with Hochul and three-quarters of Republicans are with Stefanik," Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. "Independents are closely divided, leaning toward Stefanik, after favoring Hochul in June."
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