NEW YORK, NY — Republican candidate for New York State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez released this statement following tonight’s Democratic primary debate:
“Tonight’s Democratic primary debate showed New Yorkers two competing visions of the Comptroller’s office: the failed dynasty represented by Tom DiNapoli’s decades in office, and an increasingly far-left activist movement represented by Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw.
DiNapoli spent the debate defending his nearly 20-year record as Comptroller while New Yorkers are paying some of the highest taxes in America with little return. During his tenure, New York’s budget has more than doubled, the MTA continues to waste billions, and the Comptroller’s office has failed to provide the independent oversight taxpayers deserve.
Meanwhile, Goyle and Warshaw competed to position themselves as the candidate most willing to stand against President Trump while pushing politically driven investment agendas for our state pension fund. The pension fund is not a political weapon. It belongs to police officers, firefighters, and hardworking public employees who earned those retirement benefits through decades of service.
Both candidates called for divestment from fossil fuels and companies like Palantir, while Warshaw also advocated for divesting from Israel Bonds.
In one of the most revealing moments of the debate, Warshaw unbuttoned his shirt on stage to reveal an ‘ICE OUT’ shirt attacking DiNapoli over Palantir investments. Instead of discussing how to serve New Yorkers, political theater dominated the debate stage.
What was missing from the debate was any serious focus on rooting out wasteful spending, restoring accountability, auditing failed public authorities, or maximizing returns for pensioners without political interference.
I’m running for Comptroller because New Yorkers deserve a real watchdog focused on fiduciary responsibility, independent oversight, and protecting taxpayers. New York does not need another career politician or activist trying to turn the pension fund into a political weapon.
Each candidate lacked the focus, discipline, and integrity needed to lead the Comptroller’s office in a manner that protects taxpayers and safeguards their hard-earned money from the one-party rule in Albany.”