President Donald Trump mocked New York Democrats during a Syracuse rally over legislation that would drop mother and father from some state statutes in favor of other parental labels. The New York Post reported the comments on Friday.

He criticized Governor Kathy Hochul and lawmakers for a surrogacy measure that would use pregnancy-based parent terms and rename paternity proceedings. Trump also said Hochul backs gender-related medical steps for children plus male athletes in female sports, and he urged voters to pick Republican Bruce Blakeman.

A Marist poll out Wednesday put Blakeman 11 points behind Hochul, while a Siena University survey last month showed a single-digit gap.