Lee Zeldin officially conceded the race for governor, after the race was called by several outlets for Kathy Hochul and she declared herself the winner, early Wednesday morning.

Zeldin did not give a speech, but instead issued a prepared statement.

“I would like to congratulate New York Governor Kathy Hochul on her election to a full four-year term,” the outgoing Long Island congressman wrote.

“This race was a once in a generation campaign, with a very close margin in the bluest of blue states. The unrelenting passion and hard work of our grassroots volunteers and supporters made this incredibly close race possible and helped us win at least 49 of New York’s 62 counties. Republicans, Democrats and Independents united as New Yorkers, pouring their heart and soul into this campaign.

In defeat he also noted the impact the tight race had on putting bail reform and crime front and center as issues to be recklponbed with going forward.

“Those controlling Albany should take note. New Yorkers of all walks of life are sick of the attacks on their wallets, their safety, their freedoms and the quality of their kids’ education and are hitting their breaking point, as proven by these results,” Zeldin said.

“As they take office in January, Gov. Kathy Hochul and those controlling Albany must address the grave concerns voiced by the voters. While this campaign has come to a close, the rescue mission to Save Our State continues.”

As of early Wednesday morning, 93% reported Hochul’s six-point lead in the race. The race was first called for Hochul by NBC News around 11 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Soon after, confetti rained down over the Democrat, who became the first woman elected to be governor in New York. She told supporters, “I’m not here to make history, I’m here to make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Zeldin declined to concede, holding out hope that he would become the first Republican to win the seat in 20 years.

“We have been crushing the Election Day vote all across the whole state,” the 42-year-old said Tuesday night.

Zeldin said there were still over 1.4 million uncounted votes, and predicted “massive” numbers would soon come in from Long Island, where he lives and serves as a congressmember.

“It’s going to be a little frustrating for members of the media who didn’t want us to ever be in contention here in New York,” he told the dwindling crowd of supporters in midtown Manhattan.

“There’s a piece of this story that is still to be told,” he said.

“We hope as these results come in we will be able to prevail.”

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But when votes from Suffolk County started coming in around 1 a.m., Hochul was still ahead at 57% to 43%.

Around 2 a.m., the Associated Press called the race for Hochul, 64, who was leading 52.7% to 47.3% with 93 percent of votes counted.

The race became closer than most gubernatorial contests in recent years as Zeldin closed in on Hochul, with voters seeming to become more responsive to his tough-on-crime message and views on the economy.

Polling data released a week before the election indicated Zeldin was leading Hochul by 48.4% to 47.6%, according to the Trafalgar Group. At the time only 4% of voters said they were still undecided on who they wanted to elect on Nov. 8.

“Crime Wave Kathy is driving New York right off a cliff,” Zeldin said in a statement after the poll’s release. “To repeal cashless bail, fire rogue DAs like Alvin Bragg, stop congestion pricing, and take other bold action to save our state, Hochul’s gotta go.

“On November 8th, we are going to win this race for governor, because we have to win this race. Losing is not an option. New Yorkers throughout the state are sick and tired of the attacks on our wallets, safety, freedom and kids’ education. They’re fed up with the direction of Kathy Hochul’s New York, her rampant pay to play corruption, soaring crime, and crushing costs.”

The Hochul campaign declined to comment on the polling, which came in as the incumbent was slammed for suggesting in an MSNBC interview that Americans’ rising fear about crime was manufactured by “master manipulators” in a national “conspiracy.”

But as the race grew tighter, Hochul became more focused on crime, announcing a new subway safety plan with Mayor Eric Adams and releasing a commercial in which she said New Yorkers “deserve to feel safe.”

The win gives Hochul, who took office in August 2021 after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, a full term to make her mark.

While making a last-minute campaign stop in Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Election Day, Hochul insisted she’d begin working to fix New York “first thing tomorrow.”

“This city is back and I want to lead this state into the next four years and possibly beyond with a sense of optimism we have not had here in a long time,” she said, adding: “That will start first thing tomorrow morning.”