Empire State Today

The weekend saw the publication of two significant articles discussing the challenges faced by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and broader issues within left-leaning political parties.

Joe Burns, writing for the National Review, highlighted the difficult path ahead for Governor Hochul in 2025. According to Burns, she is encountering strong political resistance, with fellow Democrats seemingly preparing for a primary challenge in 2026.

Fareed Zakaria, in his piece for the Washington Post, examined global dissatisfaction with left-leaning governments. He noted that over half of the world's population voted last year, expressing frustration with current governance. Zakaria observed that left-of-center parties are struggling worldwide, including within the European Union where only a few such parties lead government coalitions. In contrast, right-wing populism and center-right politics appear to be gaining ground. In the United States, Zakaria pointed out Donald Trump's broad electoral success as part of this trend.

Zakaria warned that if Democrats do not address governance issues in blue cities and states, they risk being perceived as defending cultural elites and inefficient government structures. This perception could potentially lead to long-term minority status for them.