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Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, crisscrossed New York this week — making campaign stops from the state fair to Queens.
The rivals also traded barbs over Penn Station and ICE, as well as Blakeman resurrecting an eyebrow-raising remark the governor made two years ago.
“The people have been neglected here; they’ve been abused by Kathy Hochul,” Blakeman said to reporters at an event near Binghamton on Tuesday.
Hochul slammed the Trump administration over new Canadian tariffs, focusing on national politics impacting New York.
“[It’s] such an egregious political mistake as well because people are going to rebel as well. I will be happy to remind them who is doing this. Who drove up the cost in the grocery stores?” Hochul said during an interview Friday morning on MS NOW.
She also criticized the Trump administration’s renaming of a lake.
“It’s Lake Ontario, it’s Lake Ontario. I’ll say it again: it’s Lake Ontario,” she said Thursday evening during a separate interview with NY1 in Queens.
She’s trying to put her opponent in a tough spot.
“I can’t say what’s going on in Washington, but I can say that here in New York State, Kathy Hochul is not backing agriculture, she’s not backing our farmers,” said Blakeman during a stop Friday at the New York State Fair.
“Everybody’s fed up with the taxes; we are the most overtaxed state in America,” he continued.
He was attempting to keep the focus on local issues.
“To the degree that he establishes distance, then he has to worry about turning off his base and the MAGA support that he has to have. So ultimately, this is his tight walk,” said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist University Poll.
Hochul also went to the fair on Wednesday for the opening day with her family before stumping downstate.
“You know who supports the cuts in Medicaid? You know who supports data centers in every single community? Bruce Blakeman supports this!” she said to Queens Democrats, headlining the opening of a campaign office in the Jamaica neighborhood.
“This is the downstate governor, and the downstate governor has to sort of show that, you know, she’s more acceptable and familiar with New York leaders and ultimately the voters,” said Miringoff.
The pair also collided over official business.
Nassau County ranked among some counties that still had work agreements between local law enforcement agencies and ICE. Blakeman decided to sue alongside other counties.
“This is one of the saddest days of my life as county executive,” said Blakeman during a press conference Wednesday in Mineola.
“We don’t get to pick and choose the laws that we have to enforce or abide by, but we can remember those elected officials that produce these terrible and bad laws that will lead to mayhem and violence,” he added.
But he ultimately decided to follow the law.
“To what degree does he look like he’s supportive of President Trump and his policies, and to what degree does he establish some separation with President Trump and his policies?” said Miringoff.
Both have released new campaign attack ads in recent weeks. Blakeman went after Hochul for comments made in 2024 that she has since apologized for.
“Young Black kids in the Bronx don’t know what a computer is? Get a grip, Kathy Hochul,” said the ad in a portion of the 30-second spot.
But Hochul’s campaign responded, slamming Blakeman for his own recent campaign appearances.
“The Governor misspoke, immediately apologized, and got back to work… Meanwhile, Bruce Blakeman has been unapologetic about each and every one of his attacks on Black New Yorkers,” said Hochul spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika.
