Two New York state congressional representatives who consistently side with President Donald Trump are calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to follow in his footsteps regarding bail.

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy of the 23rd Congressional District that includes Chautauqua County, and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik — who may challenge Hochul in 2026 — applauded Trump’s executive order ending cashless bail in Washington, D.C. and called on Hochul to do the same.

“It’s a sad state of affairs when the President of the United States has to step in and do the job local officials should be doing to keep people safe,” Langworthy said. “In New York, Governor Hochul and Albany Democrats have unleashed a wave of tragic and entirely preventable crimes. The supporters of these disastrous pro-criminal policies have blood on their hands.

“I strongly support President Trump’s Executive Order to restore law and order, and I urge Congressional leadership to act to codify it so we can end this madness in pro-criminal, anti-police states like New York. The radical Left’s obsession with coddling criminals has left a trail of victims whose lives will never be the same. New Yorkers deserve leaders who put the safety of law-abiding citizens ahead of violent offenders. Thankfully, President Trump is once again leading where Democrats have failed–bringing safety, accountability, and common sense back to our government.”

Stefanik, who represents the 21st Congressional District in eastern New York and the Adirondack region, was just as blunt.

“For too long, New Yorkers have suffered violent crimes and even lost their lives due to Kathy Hochul and single party Democrat rule’s dangerous anti-police, pro-criminal policies. New Yorkers want law and order and tough on crime policies to bring safety back to our great state.”

Enacted in 2019 by the New York State Legislature, bail reform began in January 2020. Since then, opponents of the measure have said the law has allowed crime rates to increase.

A 2024 article by the Brennan Center for Justice disagrees with those sentiments. They note, “bail reform is beneficial for both individuals and public safety because it addresses inequities in the criminal justice system. By reducing reliance on cash bail, reform efforts ensure that people are not detained solely because they cannot afford bail, promoting fairness and reducing unnecessary pretrial incarceration.”