NEW YORK —
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman faced off in a gubernatorial debate on Tuesday night. It was hosted by Spectrum News in New York City.
The clock is ticking in the race for New York Governor with only three weeks until Election Day.
The incumbent, Democrat Kathy Hochul, and Republican Bruce Blakeman went head-to-head to try and win over independent and undecided voters.
But it seemed like there was a third person behind a podium.
“Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Donald Trump, that’s all you can talk about because you have a record of failure and misery for the people who live in this state,” said Blakeman.
“I did not wrap myself in the shroud of Donald Trump the way you did,” replied Hochul.
Both Hochul and Blakeman brought up President Donald Trump in seemingly every response.
Hochul continuously faulted President Trump for issues, like high costs. But Blakeman, a close friend of the president’s, said Hochul and her policies are to blame.
“What he [President Trump] has done is raised gasoline prices and energy prices and the cost of tariffs have driven up everything in the state,” said Hochul. “You bought groceries lately? My God, the people are suffering.”
“We’re failing in New York State, and it’s not because of Donald Trump and his tariffs. It’s because of Governor Hochul,” said Blakeman. “People aren’t investing in New York because they don’t have confidence in the policies of Kathy Hochul. We’re overtaxed.”
Hochul has been representing New Yorkers since August 2021, when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, (D)-NY, resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
She won her first full term, as the first female governor of New York, in 2022. But it was only by a slim, nearly six-point lead ahead of her then-Republican challenger, Lee Zeldin.
Hochul’s current Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman, is a Nassau County, Long Island executive.
One thing the two agreed on was the high cost of living.
“They [farmers] can’t afford to do business in New York,” said Blakeman. “We’re number 50 out of 50 states in economic outlook. It doesn’t get worse than that.”
The candidates discussed concerns that many people in our region have, especially soaring utility bills.
“I understand the pain that so many people are going through,” said Hochul. “Energy prices are high all over America, and the issue is that we don’t have enough supply to meet the demand.”
Their ideas to lower energy prices are what differs.
Hochul said she has an “all the above” approach and wants to build more. Blakeman vows to extract natural gas, if elected.
Political analyst Ron Seyb said this debate is the opportunity for candidates to solidify their messaging.
“Both Hochul and Blakeman have done well in terms of consolidating their support, but it’s really the battle over the independent voters, particularly in the downstate suburbs and upstate New York,” said Seyb.
A recent poll by the Siena Research Institute, sponsored in part by NBC5, showed 7% of North Country participants still don’t know who they’ll vote for.
Seyb said debates can help voters not only learn more about the candidates but have more of an interest in filling out a ballot.
“Getting voters out who are not likely voters to come to the polls, and that’s maybe what the debate can do,” said Seyb.
He said it could be a free way to advertise and pick up last-minute donors.
Early voting in New York starts on Oct. 24. Election Day is Nov. 3.