Gov. Kathy Hochul has big money lead over Nassau Executive Bruce Blakeman in quest for reelection

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a commanding financial advantage in her reelection bid with less than 10 months until the general election.

Hochul is sitting on a $20 million campaign account, after spending $2.8 million and raising nearly $5.5 million, according to her latest campaign finance filing. The incumbent Democrat raised an additional $6.5 million for the state Democratic committee.

The party committee now has $12 million in its campaign chest.

Meanwhile, Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who launched his campaign last month, reported $1.2 million on hand. Blakeman reported raising $261,011 and spent nearly as much, reporting $242,103 in expenses. Another $1.2 million was transferred from Blakeman’s county executive campaign account and from the Nassau County Republican Committee.

Hochul’s campaign spokesman cast the election as a fight between the governor and President Donald Trump.

"Right now Donald Trump is waging war on New York families, and Bruce Blakeman has made clear he won’t lift a finger to stop him — that’s why this campaign is laying the groundwork necessary to re-elect the governor, elect Democratic leaders up and down the ballot, and take back the House in November to keep our state safe from Trump’s relentless attacks," campaign manager Preston Elliott said in a statement.

But Blakeman’s campaign dismissed Hochul’s fundraising advantage.

"No amount of money can overshadow Kathy Hochul’s disastrous record of tax hikes, skyrocketing utility bills, higher commuter fares and tolls, and pro-criminal policies that put every New Yorker at risk of becoming the next crime victim," said his spokeswoman Madison Spanodemos in a statement.

Hochul must first fend off a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.

Delgado reported raising $1.2 million in his latest campaign finance report. Delgado’s campaign said his fundraising outstrips previous Democratic primary challengers such as Zephyr Teachout and Cynthia Nixon, who ran in 2014 and 2018, respectively. He has $1.1 million on hand after spending $1.4 million.

Hochul’s fundraising prowess will make her a significant force in races across the state and could help Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives, said Larry Levy, executive dean of suburban studies at Hofstra University.

Levy noted that Hochul’s fundraising success was a product of her incumbency, improving poll numbers and a wager by donors that she will win reelection. That financial edge, combined with Trump’s negative poll numbers in the state, could serve to scare off major Republican donors from outside New York who might be looking to help Blakeman, he said.

"With control of Congress and the Senate at stake, and several key state legislatures ... the New York governor's race may not be where they want to put their money," he said. "You're not going to want to be the person writing a check to close a $20 million gap."

All three Democratic candidates in the race for state comptroller each reported raising more than $1 million. Incumbent Thomas DiNapoli raised just over $1 million and has $1.3 million on hand, according to his campaign finance filing. DiNapoli is seeking a sixth term.

His two primary challengers, Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle, both touted their fundraising prowess. Warshaw, the former co-chief executive of the affordable housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, brought in $661,790, according to his campaign finance report. He has $1.2 million on hand. Goyle, a former Kansas state legislator, filed his first campaign finance report since announcing his candidacy. Goyle raised $1.4 million and has $1.2 million on hand.

This will be the first campaign cycle in which candidates for governor and state comptroller are eligible for funds from the state’s public campaign finance program. The program provides taxpayer funds at a 6-1 match for those offices for donations between $5 and $250.

And at least one Long Island state Assembly race is heating up. In Assembly District 4, generally focused around Port Jefferson, Democratic incumbent Rebecca Kassay reported raising $25,698. Kassay spent $4,239 and has $27,275 on hand. Republican challenger Will Sussman has already raised $42,209. Sussman has also spent $20,818, leaving him with $20,758 on hand.