Gov. Kathy Hochul rolled out support in New York’s Capital City on Friday with a slate of endorsements from Albany-area elected officials and appearances by key surrogates in the Capital City in an effort to put Republican Bruce Blakeman on blast for his ties to President Donald Trump.
The event comes as the 2026 gubernatorial campaign heats up. Blakeman appeared with construction leaders earlier in the week to rail against Hochul’s energy policy, and Hochul will appear with Attorney General Letitia James and union leaders in Manhattan on Saturday to drum up union support.
At an event intended to shine a light on what the Hochul campaign describes as Blakeman’s attempt to bring his “Trump style” of leadership to the state capitol, Rep. Paul Tonko zeroed in on Blakeman’s support for Trump’s tariffs.
“The last thing New York needs right now is a mini-Trump bringing his failed leadership in Nassau County statewide,” Tonko said of Blakeman’s support of policies, including Trump’s tariffs. “Not only was Bruce Blakeman supportive, but he attended a White House rose garden ceremony and got a personal shoutout.”
It came as the Hochul campaign rolled out endorsements from nearly 100 elected officials in Albany County, including Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, as well as numerous other county and city officials.
Applyrs credited Hochul for her focus on boosting the struggling Capital City and emphasis on economic development.
“From her historic investments to revitalize our downtown, increase our housing stock, boost economic development, and empower our local state leaders, Gov. Hochul has made it clear that the future of our Capital City is a state priority,” she said.
At the appearance, Applyrs commended Hochul for her investments in Albany, including boosts in AIM funding and a historic $400 million investment in Albany as part of last year’s state budget.
“I’m deeply honored to have the support of so many of Albany’s outstanding leaders who have been true partners in delivering real results to the Capital District,” Hochul said. “Together, Albany is witnessing an unprecedented transformation with investments in our downtowns and waterfronts, safer communities and historic drops in gun violence, and expanded access to affordable childcare. That’s the kind of momentum this region deserves, and with these partners by my side, we’ll continue to bring that same energy to fighting for New York’s families.”
As the slate of Albany officials was joined by union leaders in Albany, they honed in on what they described as Hochul’s ability to tackle the affordability crisis two days after Blakeman appeared in New York City alongside builders to slam New York’s energy policy under Hochul.
In addition to support from Trump, Blakeman was able to quickly consolidate support from New York Republicans, with nearly all of the state’s Republican county chairs lending their endorsement upon the withdrawal of Rep. Elise Stefanik from the governor’s race late last year.
As Democrats work to tie Blakeman to Trump, Blakeman has embraced those ties and worked to turn the affordability conversation toward utility costs even as Hochul has gone to great lengths, including spearheading controversial changes to the state’s climate law, to counter such attacks.
“Kathy Hochul’s energy policy is nothing short of a crime against New Yorkers. Right now, Hochul’s disastrous mandates are forcing families to pay up to 70% more for electricity than the rest of the nation,” he said. “It’s unscientific, it’s unaffordable, and when I’m Governor, we are going to scrap this green energy scam, bring back natural gas, and start putting New York families first.”