LOWER MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman traded attacks over taxes, utility rates, crime, immigration and former President Donald Trump during a debate Tuesday night, with the issue of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emerging late in the exchange.
Hochul repeatedly tied Blakeman to Trump during the debate.
“He says that he’s going to bring Trump-style leadership to Albany,” Hochul said. “You support every single thing that Donald Trump does.”
The governor also criticized economic conditions and U.S. foreign policy.
“If you bought groceries lately, my God, the people are suffering. And that didn’t have to be the case. Why are we at war with the rest of the world?” Hochul said.
Blakeman accused Hochul of focusing on Trump to avoid discussing her record.
“You like to talk about Donald Trump all the time because you don’t want to talk about your record,” he said.
Blakeman blamed the governor for higher taxes and utility rates, and the candidates clashed over crime and immigration.
“We have an epidemic of crime from these illegal migrants,” Blakeman said.
Hochul responded by criticizing Blakeman’s position on immigration enforcement.
“He’s going to let ICE run rampant in our streets,” she said.
The debate shifted in its final 10 minutes to Mamdani, whom Blakeman called a political liability for the governor.
“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman cited Hochul’s support for the mayor and added: “Look, if you want to campaign with him, that’s fine. But I will tell you right now, I think Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite. I believe he’s anti-Christian, and I don’t think he has American values.”
Campaigning upstate on Wednesday, Blakeman renewed his criticism of the governor.
“If you saw the debate last night, Kathy Hochul could not defend her record because it is a record of misery,” he said.
The governor has funded Mamdani’s childcare initiatives and NYPD subway patrols. Speaking Wednesday morning, Hochul dismissed Blakeman’s remarks about the mayor.
“The mayor and I are great partners, are working hard together. And I don’t—I’m not going to give him the dignity of responding to those kind of crazy comments,” she said.
Asked by Eyewitness News whether he was an asset or a liability to Hochul’s campaign, Mamdani said voters should focus on his administration’s work.
“I think the work that we’re doing is an asset, because the work that we’re doing over 10 months has been to make the city more affordable for working families,” Mamdani said.
Hochul and Mamdani have not campaigned together. The governor told reporters Wednesday that she expects that to happen. With 20 days remaining before Election Day, questions remain about when they will appear together and why they have not done so already.
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