By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-10-02 10:07:02 | Updated at 2026-10-02 12:56:33
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Super PACs backing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection are boosting spending, aiming to help the Democrat win big in blue New York to fend off the “radical” wing of her party.
Hochul already has the inside track with $33 million cash on hand between her campaign account and the account of the state Democratic Party — but sources say she wants to put some distance between her and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman and get blamed if a lack of enthusiasm hurts downballot candidates.
“[People are] angry and they have a right to be. And I think the governor knows that and the government knows she has to respond to that,” said Jay Martin, who oversees The Leadership for New York Super PAC.
“I think the election is going to be very tight, regardless of how good a race that the governor runs or Bruce Blakeman runs,” he told The Post Thursday. “And so we believe that the governor needs support to make sure she has a mandate to push back against the more radical elements in the party.”
The governor has also a massive registration advantage in deeply blue New York, where there are 6 million registered Democrats, 3.4 million voters not affiliated with any party and only 2.8 million registered members of the GOP, according to Board of Elections figures.
No Republican has won a statewide race since Gov. George Pataki in 2022.
But Martin said Hochul supporters aren’t taking any chances as incumbents face a “toxic environment” because of soaring prices.
His PAC has received a $3 million donation from the landlord and property managers group the New York Apartment Association, where he was formerly executive director.
That money is being used to air a 30-second spot Sunday during the Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots game, ripping Blakeman as President Trump’s “biggest cheerleader,” Politico first reported.
“When Trump says ‘jump’ Bruce shakes his pom-poms,” the narrator says.
Hochul recently announced raising $8.5 million over the summer months between her campaign and the state Democratic Party’s account, part of the overall $33 million war chest with only weeks to go until Election Day on Nov. 3.
Blakeman’s campaign has yet to release his latest fundraising figures, which are due Friday.
The pro-Hochul influx of cash comes as the Democrat wants to win by a much wider margin than she did in 2022, when she beat Republican Lee Zeldin by six percentage points — a surprisingly close margin in the left-leaning state.
Hochul performed poorly in the suburbs, and critics railed that the top of ticket hurt local races and contributed to Democratic losses in House races in swing districts.
PACs are looking to put their thumb on the scale this time for a better result.
Super PAC Fair and Affordable New York, bankrolled by Uber Technologies, is spending $3 million to promote Hochul.
The Democratic governor, who has been in office since 2021, rammed through a law to rein in auto insurance costs earlier this year, a top priority of of the driver app firm.
A pro-Hochul environmental advocacy PAC — Evergreen New York — also has spent $270,000 over the past week attacking Blakeman, according to state Board of Election filings.
One pro-Blakeman outside group, Strong and Safe New York, has raised $5 million and is spending heavily promoting the challenger and attacking Hochul.
That group is largely bankrolled by Knicks owner James Dolan and more recently by retired casino magnate Steve Wynn, who kicked in $1 million.
Democrats like Queens Borough President Donovan Richards predicted Hochul would come out on top, even as she faces mounting scrutiny from a growing liberal wing of the party energized by democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election win last year.
“Governor Hochul is going to run up the score in New York City. There’s been no better governor for Queens,” Richards said. “Blakeman’s association with President Trump is going to hurt him.”
