Jones probably would've lost by an even larger margin given that he's almost certainly more progressive than SPM on crime-related issues.
This is a really uninformed take when turnout in NY tanked, especially compared to other states where progressives won the very kind of races you’re saying they would jeopardize, eg Matt Cartwright, John Fetterman. It’s kind of lazy to just reduce voters into simple binaries. Jones indisputably had better ties to working class Rockland County than SPM. A minute difference in the margin there probably would’ve sealed the deal. And Jones would’ve certainly been more likely to perform better there than SPM, who as I understand it barely even ran a field operation
After carpet bagging, Jones is damaged goods. But it would be a serious mistake to run another snobby elite moderate here. If we can compete with working class voters in Rockland and Putnam counties, Lawler will win again.
As for the crime attacks, I think NY is perfect evidence that we lose when democrats Judas the party by hyping up a crime wave that is more media hype than empirical fact. Eric Adams was the biggest villain in NY this cycle, just like London Breed and Rick Caruso were in California.
