President Donald Trump criticized a New York surrogacy bill during a rally in Syracuse while supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman. At the event, Trump mocked the bill’s language changes in state law, which replace terms like “mother” and “father” with “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent.” Speaking to the crowd at the Oncenter, he joked about these changes, saying, “You can no longer say ‘mother, hi mom!’ It’s ‘hi gestating.’” This drew laughter from attendees.
Trump extended the criticism into a wider argument against Governor Kathy Hochul, associating the bill with her stance on transgender health care for children and involvement in women’s sports. The rally also featured former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who expressed his support for Trump by referring to him as “my president.” Newsweek reached out to the White House and Governor Hochul’s office for comment, but no reply was received by Saturday evening.
Key Points from the Rally
- Several thousand supporters attended, as reported by the New York Post.
- Governor Hochul’s office stated that no legislation changes the traditional view of “mothers are mothers and fathers are fathers.”
- A Marist poll shows the Democratic governor leading her Republican challenger by 11 points.
- A Siena University survey from the previous month indicated a much closer race.
Why the Debate Matters
The disagreement over the surrogacy bill has become a focal point in the election as Republicans aim to portray Albany Democrats as out of touch with voters’ concerns. The bill changes terminology in parentage proceedings, introducing “gestating” and “non-gestating” as replacements for traditional family roles. Supporters argue the wording resolves legal issues related to surrogacy. Critics contend it undermines traditional family roles while increasing government influence over parental decisions.
Blakeman and Hochul’s Differing Views
Trump shifted his focus to Blakeman, encouraging New Yorkers to elect him over the “radical left.” Blakeman himself called the measure “insane,” arguing it takes control from parents and undermines traditional roles. In contrast, a spokesperson for Hochul rebutted this narrative, suggesting the bill aims to address specific legal issues. The spokesperson emphasized these misrepresentations are politically motivated attacks.
Latest Opinion Polls on the Race
Blakeman remains behind Hochul in several statewide polls. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11 News survey conducted in early October had Hochul leading by 12 points, 52 percent to 40 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. A Marist Poll from the same period showed Hochul leading by 11 points, 53 percent to 42 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Earlier polls depicted wider gaps. A Quinnipiac University survey in September showed Hochul with a 19-point lead. A Siena University Poll from the same time had Hochul ahead by nine points. All surveys indicated Hochul in a leading position, though with margins varying depending on the sample type. While Marist surveyed registered voters, the others focused on likely voters, necessitating cautious comparison.
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