New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman is suing the state Public Campaign Finance Board after the panel that oversees the program voted to deny him millions of dollars of public campaign matching funds.
The board on March 31 voted 4-3 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.
The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Albany County, states that Hood was never notified that he was required to make a filing with the Public Campaign Finance Board, wasn’t provided with any forms or guidance and has not received any notice that he was disqualified from the program.
Blakeman, currently the the Nassau County executive, and his allies have alleged the decision by the board is a partisan one, as the Public Campaign Finance Board has a four-to-three Democratic majority.
The program, first used in New York in the 2024 elections, means political campaigns can match low-dollar donations with public money. Gov. 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.
The decision was anticipated by Blakeman and others, and condemned by government watchdog groups like Reinvent Albany, which said Blakeman’s campaign should have gotten more help from the board.