President Trump Criticizes New York Surrogacy Bill at Syracuse Rally

During a campaign rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman in Syracuse, President Donald Trump expressed disdain for terminology changes in a New York surrogacy bill. He specifically targeted revisions to state law that replace terms such as “mother” and “father” with “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent.” Addressing attendees at the Oncenter, Trump joked that greetings would have to shift from “hello mom” to “hello gestating,” prompting laughter from supporters.

Trump expanded his critique into a wider campaign argument, aligning the measure with Governor Kathy Hochul’s policies on transgender health care for children and women’s sports inclusion. The rally also featured an appearance by Mike Tyson, who joined Trump briefly on stage, expressing his happiness to be with “my president.” Newsweek sought comment from the White House and Governor Hochul’s office outside regular working hours but did not receive immediate responses.

Key Points

• Several thousand supporters attended the event, reported by the New York Post.
• Hochul’s office maintains unchanged views on parental roles, stating “mothers are mothers and fathers are fathers.”
• A Marist poll released Wednesday shows Hochul leading Blakeman by 11 points.
• Earlier Siena University polling put the race within single digits.

Trump’s remarks highlight the bill as a contentious election issue, with Republicans portraying Albany Democrats as disconnected from voter concerns. The legislation modifies language in parentage proceedings, defining individuals as “gestating” or “non-gestating” parents instead of using “paternity” in hearings. Supporters believe these adjustments resolve technical legal questions surrounding surrogacy. Conversely, critics argue this erodes traditional family terminology and increases state control over familial matters.

Blakeman and Hochul Present Divergent Views

Trump shifted focus to Blakeman, the Nassau County executive aiming to defeat the Democratic incumbent. He proclaimed, “New York needs to throw out this radical left lunatic and elect Bruce Blakeman.” Blakeman earlier described the bill as “insane,” arguing it revokes parental authority and diminishes parental roles. He said Albany should not decide matters best left to parents.

Governor Hochul’s spokesperson countered Blakeman’s assertions, explaining ongoing evaluation of the legislation. The spokesperson emphasized that its intent addresses surrogacy-related legal issues, and accused detractors of misleading the public for political advantage.

Poll Insights on the Governor’s Race

Blakeman trails Hochul in recent statewide polls. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11 News survey from October 3 to 5 with 900 likely voters shows Hochul leading by 12 points, at 52 percent versus Blakeman’s 40 percent. The margin of error is 3.3 percentage points.

A Marist Poll from October 1 to 4 among 1,361 registered voters found Hochul with a narrower 11-point lead, standing at 53 percent compared to Blakeman’s 42 percent. This poll carries a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

September polls showed larger disparities: A Quinnipiac University poll questioned 1,026 likely voters from September 17 to 20 and recorded a 19-point lead for Hochul, with a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points. A Siena University Poll from September 11 to 17 with 1,144 likely voters placed Hochul nine points ahead, reflecting a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

Although the polling margins vary from nine to 19 points, all data indicate Hochul leading. Direct comparison must be cautious since Marist surveyed registered voters; whereas, other polls focused on likely voters.