https://nypost.com/2020/11/11/aoc-ripped-into-by-nys-dem-leader-after-partys-rough-election-night/ Here's a FOX News video: It's interesting that NY underperformed the rest of the country for Democrats. You see that Democrats did really well in places like MI and PA. I wonder if AOC offset Trump a bit and brought down candidates in her state, particularly in neighboring NY-17 (Westchester/Rockland Counties) and the Long Island districts. Her "defund the police" stance as crime increased in NY might have made it easier for Republicans to paint Democrats more broadly with that message. Lee Zeldin hammered that home and did really well for a Republican by NY standards (particularly as one who isn't super moderate as Pataki was). Also, I don't think many NYer's have forgotten her bragging about losing out on Amazon as other states have seen more economic growth since her time in office.
AOC and other "defund" progs won by landslides, hell probably better margins than previous races. If dem Mayor Adams decides to run on fearmongering "crime is up" rhetoric, NY Dems shouldn't be surprised if they get outflanked by "crime is up" repugs. Own up to handing the races to the other party, not blame the winning faction of the party. Or is NY the only state with increasing crime due to economic pressures? What about the dems in Texas, did they lose because of "defund"?
They effectively made it more of a political issue in NY. This is clear as NY was one of the more Republican states of the night compared to 2020.
Zeldin and other Republicans. They basically ran on crime in NY. They ran stories like the Democrats are letting career criminal roam free and push innocent people into the subway.
And I'm saying Adams paved the groundwork to buy into the fear. Dems didn't feel so bad moving from a position they already held.