MIDTERMS: GOP's Zeldin & Lake Refuse To Concede NY, AZ Gov Races

Two Republican challengers to incumbent Democratic governors are refusing to concede in races for the governors' mansions of the states of New York and Arizona, despite partial results indicating that they have lost these contests.

• In New York CBS, CNN, NBC and ABC news have called the contest for incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul. However, in recent minutes Republican candidate Lee Zeldin has refused to concede the race, stating that "This race will get closer and closer as the night goes on." Data from NYT has Hochul leading Zeldin with 54.2% of the vote to 45.8% with 80% of the vote counted.
• In Arizona results are in a much earlier stage, but early indications are that incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs is well positioned to hold on, with CBS having the race as 'lean Democratic'. NYT has Hobbs leading Republican Kari Lake by 56.7% to 43.3% with 48% of votes counted.
• In an address to supporters, Lake railed against the state's election system, “The system we have right now doesn’t work. We deserve to know the winners and losers on election night….we’re going to be patient. When we win, and I think it will be within hours... we will declare victory and get to turning this around. No more incompetency and no more corruption in Arizona elections!"