New York governor: Lee Zeldin supporter attacked at rally for Gov. Kathy Hochul, video shows
The woman said she sought medical attention and reported the incident to the police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A supporter of New York gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Lee Zeldin, was allegedly attacked and assaulted at a rally for Democratic candidate Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday.
Hochul was holding the rally with other Democratic officials when counter-protestors supporting Zeldin showed up with signs and started chanting against the governor.
A Lee Zeldin supporter says she was attacked and assaulted at a rally for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. (Screenshot via Viral News NYC)
Video obtained by Fox News shows a Hochul supporter appearing to punch and choke a woman named Angelica Torres. The Zeldin supporter said she later sought medical attention and reported the incident to the police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Torres told Fox News on Sunday she was still shaken up by the fight. She said she had been carrying a pro-Zeldin sign.
"I was carrying a sign that said, ‘Vote Them Out,’ and under their campaign portraits. Then unexpectedly I was attacked by a woman who grabbed my sign. While I was trying to retrieve my sign another man much larger than me started to choke me," Torres said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I was very shocked and upset that I couldn’t express my opinions openly without violence. Crime and violence is a big issue in our city."
Lee Zeldin and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul debate last week. Zeldin has made New York state's crime rate a key part of his campaign against Hochul. (Screenshot/Spectrum News)
Fox News has reached out to the New York City Police Department for more details on this incident.
New York City Councilwoman Krystal Hudson, a Democrat, was also reportedly seen tussling with Torres, who alleged that the councilwoman grabbed her. Her office has not responded to requests for comment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Identities of the alleged perpetrators and their possible motives remain unknown. Nor is it clear whether those accused of assaulting Torres were Hochul supporters.
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Hochul was beating Zeldin by 17 points in August polls, but her lead has now shrunk to single digits, with some pollsters placing her just 4 points ahead. The close race is unnerving for Democrats in a deep blue state where registered party members outnumber Republicans roughly two to one. Democrats argue the polling will serve as a "wake-up call" for their base, according to Politico.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.