KINGSTON, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into Republicans in Washington and hit on divisive issues in a campaign speech at a rally organizers called The Blue Wave Rally in Kingston on Sunday.

"Everyone (Republicans) has had the same extreme conservative Kool-Aid," Cuomo said to the room of supporters, volunteers and candidates at the Midtown Neighborhood Center.

The governor went back and forth between issues he believes were handled poorly by Republicans and praise for the candidates he wants to help fix statewide and nationwide policy.

"If we're going to make the statement that we want to make in this election, it's going to happen in the Hudson Valley," Cuomo said. "This is the place that's going to be transformative. This is the place where Democrats are going to come out of better than ever before and will have more Democratic victories than ever before."

Several candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, state Assembly and state Senate had booths set up, ready to recruit new supporters and volunteers on the heels of the excitement brought by Cuomo.

State Senate Candidate Karen Smythe said she has noticed an increased energy in her local community because of what is happening in Washington.

"I do think there is some real grassroots activity," Smythe said, "because we realize that government only works if everyone gets involved."

The governor also said involvement by millennials—either as volunteers or candidates—is going to be crucial to outcomes in the mid-term elections this November, before plugging one of his 29-year-old staffers who is running for U.S. House, Gareth Rhodes.

Rhodes' campaign manager, Jesse Meyer, said that while on the campaign trail he has noticed millennials becoming more involved than during past election cycles.

"You see a lot of energy working in a lot of nonprofits around, whether it's Planned Parenthood, the local animal shelter," Meyer said. "Folks are just getting involved and doing a lot more. Now, we have to make sure they get out to the ballot box too."

A spokesperson for the campaign of Republican Candidate for Governor Marc Molinaro sent Spectrum News a response to the governor's visit and apparent strategy to attack policy coming out of Washington.

"We welcome the Governor back to the Hudson Valley, where too many pay too much in taxes thanks to his policies," the statement read. "Marc Molinaro isn't running for Governor of a political party, he's running for Governor of all New York. Today, though, he's coaching his son's soccer team."