'Compromised': NY Gov Hochul says federal government can't be trusted on election security

Kathy Hochul said the federal government had weakened election protections, leaving New York short of security resources before the midterms
New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued that Americans should be able to cast their ballots knowing their votes will not be challenged or compromised (Getty Images)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued that Americans should be able to cast their ballots knowing their votes will not be challenged or compromised (Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: New York Governor Kathy Hochul accused the federal government of dismantling the state's election security and alleged that the government cannot be trusted with anything because it is “compromised.”

The election security battle has intensified following the president’s recent prime-time speech, where he alleged that the 2020 general election was “stolen” and foreign players were involved in the rigging of the election.

Kathy Hochul criticizes federal voter registration records review

Appearing on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’, NY Gov Kathy Hochul took aim at the federal government, accusing it of trying to dismantle New York’s secure election measures.

ALBANY, NEW YORK - AUGUST 11: Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference at the New York
Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference at the New York State Capitol on August 11, 2021, in Albany City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

“The federal government has basically been dismantling all the protections that we've come to rely on to protect this core essence of our democracy,” Hochul said as she clarified that New York doesn’t have the election security resources it needs ahead of the November midterm elections.

Hochul’s interview came after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that the department is enforcing a nationwide "scrub" of voter registration lists and election records.

She accused the administration of raising doubts about the election because of concerns over the upcoming results. She labeled the federal government’s action as an act of undermining confidence in the electoral process.



Hochul argued that Americans should be able to cast their ballots knowing their votes will not be challenged or compromised.

Hochul claims federal government intimidated minority communities

The NY governor accused the federal government of trying to instill fear among Black and Brown communities.

“Black and Brown communities across our country and in New York, where they're all of a sudden on election day to create that fear factor and intimidation factor that they're so good at,” she said. 

Hochul said that she doesn't want to “compromise the validity of our election. So, we're working hard on this here. I'll make sure that we are protected.”

People vote in the General Election at the Brooklyn Public Library on November 04, 2025, in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
People vote in the General Election at the Brooklyn Public Library on November 4, 2025, in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

She also accused the federal government of being compromised and untrustworthy. “I can’t count on the federal government for anything these days because they're compromised.”

Hochul signs Voting Act to keep ICE away

Hochul expressed concern over the possibility of ICE showing up at polling stations.

Police ICE
Hochul expressed concern over the possibility of ICE showing up at polling stations (Getty Images)

“We passed the John Rights Voting Act. We have the toughest protections in the country, and just recently, I signed a law, many, many protections against what ICE is doing, to say ICE agents cannot show up at polling places,” she said.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Donald Trump returns attention to a project plagued by algae, peeling liners, cost overruns and delays despite his claims that the work is complete
2026-11-02T04:50:44.000Z
'Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party,' Chair Curtis Hertel announced
2026-11-02T04:12:32.000Z
Donald Trump announced farm aid ahead of the November 3 midterms, but its impact on Republican support among rural voters remains uncertain
2026-11-02T04:03:44.000Z
Bernie Sanders compared the alleged effort in Alaska with a GOP-aligned super PAC’s reported spending to boost an independent candidate in Ohio
2026-11-02T03:48:46.000Z
Donald Trump said he could repeatedly veto Democratic-backed bills until lawmakers agree to negotiate with his administration
2026-11-02T02:25:21.000Z
The Michigan congresswoman broke ranks with her party's Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed just two days before Election Day
2026-11-02T02:13:28.000Z
The two Sullivan row deepened after an investigative report revealed that the Dem candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign plotted to recruit another candidate with a similar name to GOP’s Sullivan to dilute GOP votes
2026-11-01T20:52:39.000Z
Despite endorsing Mike Rogers, Haley Stevens maintained that she remained a 'proud Democrat' who stood by the values she had always supported
2026-11-01T20:09:05.000Z
Shapiro, who is also a potential 2028 presidential contender, said he expected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to make efforts to delay the seating of new members if Republicans lost their majority
2026-11-01T18:44:40.000Z
The ad showed a woman blaming Israel for high grocery prices, though Abdul El-Sayed's campaign denied responsibility for the messaging
2026-11-01T17:50:04.000Z