Following a tour of a medical facility outside San Juan, Gov. Kathy Hochul talked about an election night in New York that also put a scare in many Democrats across the country.

“What happened Tuesday was a national phenomenon,” Hochul said. “I have a lot of family in Virginia. They are still shellshocked by what happened there. I just got off the phone with the governor of New Jersey on my way here. That was a very close race, unexpectedly so. So what happened in places like Nassau, that was a national phenomenon.”

In Nassau County on Long Island, Democrats lost the District Attorney’s race, and are trailing in the race for county executive.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Hochul says election night losses for Democrats are part of a national wave

  • Hochul is sticking by Democratic State Chairman Jay Jacobs for now

  • Hochul appoints Robert Rodriguez as secretary of state after criticism she doesn’t have enough Latino representation in her administration

At the SOMOS conference over the last few days here in Puerto Rico, many Democrats have blamed Democratic State Chair Jay Jacobs for those failures, plus the loss of key ballot proposals backed by party leaders.

“We understand that there is a role for the state party to play,” Hochul said. “I will be very, very engaged. I have been for my entire life. But now I’m in a position to truly be the heart of the party in New York State. I know what has to be done.”

This week, Hochul announced that she was nominating Democratic Assembly Robert Rodriguez to be secretary of state. The appointment comes as the governor has taken criticism for not having enough Latinos in her administration.

“Well, I think that's important issue, not just in this administration, but the national situation,” Rodriguez said. “I think the census numbers don’t lie. We are a tremendous group of people represented in the state of New York and it’s important for us to have a voice in government.”

Hochul is sticking with Jacobs for now, even though this is not the first time he has made what some consider be huge gaffes. Jacobs was appointed by her predecessor Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but Hochul is in no hurry to replace him.