A New York state Supreme Court justice has vacated the state Public Campaign Finance Board’s decision denying New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman millions of dollars of public campaign matching funds.
The panel that oversees the program voted 4-3 on March 31 on a resolution that disqualifies Blakeman from the program over a technicality — that Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Blakeman’s running mate, did not submit his own paperwork applying for matching funds, a new requirement added just a few months ago.
Blakeman sued the Public Campaign Finance Board, saying Hood was never notified that he was required to make a filing with the board, wasn’t provided with any forms or guidance and had not received notice that he was disqualified from the program.
Blakeman, currently the Nassau County executive, and his allies have alleged the board’s decision was also a partisan one, as the Public Campaign Finance Board has a four-to-three Democratic majority.
The justice ruled that the board give Blakeman a week to correct his registration with the board, which would allow him access to the public campaign finance program.
The program, first used in New York in the 2024 elections, means political campaigns can match low-dollar donations with public money. Gov. Kathy Hochul is not participating in the program in this election, though her campaign has $20 million cash on hand, millions of dollars ahead of Blakeman.
“Bruce Blakeman’s victory in court should clear the way for eligibility into the state’s public matching funds program. This entire matter should never have been in question to begin with,” state Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra said in a statement. “The Public Campaign Finance Board’s decision—along party lines—to remove the Republican gubernatorial candidate from the program was clearly politically motivated. Today’s decision is a victory for fairness and election integrity. I’m glad the court demonstrated the independence that the PCFB’s Democratic commissioners couldn’t find.”