Gov. Kathy Hochul, opponent Bruce Blakeman deliver closing campaign messages in Suffolk and Queens

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Bruce Blakeman hammered home their closing messages to supporters on Long Island and in Queens on Saturday, with Hochul touting increased funding for education and healthcare while the Nassau County executive attacked the incumbent on taxes and utility bills.

Three days before Tuesday's election, Hochul held campaign rallies  in Northport and Coram, where she highlighted the state's utility rebate check and criticized President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs, disrupting offshore wind farms and cutting spending for social programs.

"This is the time of year where we get so energized and fired up with an adrenaline rush," Hochul told a crowd of about 100 supporters gathered in and around a tent in the backyard of a Coram farmhouse.

Blakeman, rallying with 100 supporters in Queens, attacked Hochul over congestion pricing, which charges a toll for vehicles operating south of 60th Street in Manhattan, and predicted the fee would expand to other parts of the city. The day before, he challenged Hochul to sign a pledge vowing she wouldn't raise taxes.

"Kathy Hochul has an insatiable desire to take your money away from you," Blakeman said.

Blakeman likened New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political agenda to Hochul’s, calling them incapable of improving affordability in New York. He also pointed to his executive order banning transgender female athletes from competing on women's and girls sports teams on Nassau County property.

Earlier this week, a Siena University poll showed Hochul leading Blakeman by 14 percentage points, with gains among independents and upstate voters. A separate Marist poll had Hochul leading by 11 points.

Blakeman on Saturday called the polls "phony," saying they underrepresent areas where he expects to perform strongly.

"We’re in a dead heat," Blakeman said. "This is a turnout election."

In Northport, Hochul urged canvassers not to let Democrats be defined solely by their opposition to Trump and Republican policies — which she tied to Blakeman — but also by "a powerful message of accomplishment," including universal childcare, a ban on cellphones in schools and free school breakfast and lunch.

Hochul encouraged support for other Democrats, most prominently Chris Gallant, of Amity Harbor,  who is running to unseat Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), and was campaigning with her. The race has "national ramifications," she said, calling it pivotal to Democrats winning a majority in the U.S. House.

"And what that means is, all of a sudden, Donald Trump is being held accountable," she said, adding Republicans have been "too afraid to challenge him."

LaLota, in a statement, said Gallant's appearance with Hochul would only hurt his campaign.

Valereh Cumberbatch, 64, of Shoreham, said Hochul came off better in-person than on television, where she has seen the governor as more fixated on opposing Trump.

"I got more of an intimate feeling with Kathy Hochul and I'm happy," Cumberbatch said. Cumberbatch, who is Black, said Hochul should appear more in Suffolk and at Black community spaces, including churches.

Speaking from the back of a pickup truck decorated with campaign posters at Blakeman's rally, Queens County Republican  chair Tony Nunziato urged residents to go to the polls. Political analysts have noted Republican support in Queens improved in recent years, Newsday has reported.

"Now is the time for the people to hit the streets and get the vote out," Nunziato said.

Al Thomas, 65, of Middle Village, said he already voted for Blakeman and came to the rally to support him.

"The direction of the state is so bad," Thomas said.

Speaking in Brooklyn on Friday morning, Hochul said she was confident about her performance on Long Island.

"I’ve spent a lot of time on Long Island. I think our numbers are looking good, especially in Suffolk," Hochul said.

Blakeman said Friday outside the Nassau County Bar Association in Mineola he was confident of his support on Long Island and welcomed Hochul spending more time in Nassau and Suffolk.

"The more time she spends here, the better my prospects are," Blakeman told reporters. "People aren’t buying into her campaign."

Newsday's Matthew Chayes contributed to this story.