‘A Record of Misery and Failure’: Blakeman Comes Out Swinging Against Hochul in New York’s Only Gubernatorial Debate

Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman traded personal attacks and clashed over taxes, New York City’s sanctuary status, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and unsurprisingly President Trump during a contentious debate Tuesday night that offered little sustained discussion of policy.The 60-minute encounter, the candidates’ only scheduled debate before Election Day, frequently veered into arguments over personalities and national politics, with Mr. Trump emerging as a central figure despite his absence.Mr. Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, repeatedly addressed his opponent as “Kathy,” accusing the governor of using Mr. Trump as a political distraction from her record in Albany. Ms. Hochul, meanwhile, sought to tie Mr. Blakeman to the president, pointing to his appearance with Mr. Trump at a rally in Syracuse over the weekend.“You want to talk about Donald Trump all the time because you don’t want to talk about your record,” Mr. Blakeman said. “It’s a record of misery and failure.”Ms. Hochul fired back, accusing Mr. Blakeman of taking credit for virtually everything. “You take credit for the sun rising in the morning and setting at night, for God’s sake,” she said.Moderators repeatedly intervened as the exchanges grew more contentious, at times cutting off Mr. Blakeman as he attempted to respond to questions or defend his positions on Mr. Trump. Mr. Blakeman insisted he differed with the president on major policy issues, but Ms. Hochul argued that her opponent had failed to stand up to the White House.“He doesn’t stand up to Donald Trump, ever, you never see that,” the governor said.“I have very significant policy differences with President Trump,” Mr. Blakeman replied before moderators interrupted.The debate came as a new poll showed Mr. Blakeman within three percentage points of Ms. Hochul, putting pressure on the governor as she seeks another term amid concerns about New York’s business climate and economic uncertainty.“Everywhere I go, people are telling me they are struggling,” Mr. Blakeman said in his opening statement.The candidates offered competing promises on taxes. Ms. Hochul pledged not to raise income taxes, while Mr. Blakeman promised to cut them and accused the governor of presiding over an $8 billion increase during her tenure.Mr. Blakeman also vowed to end New York’s sanctuary-state policies on his first day in office.“I will end our Sanctuary State status on day one as governor,” he said.The candidates clashed over the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving members of a Cornell University fraternity. A female student has accused the university of failing her after she reported misconduct involving multiple fraternity members.Mr. Blakeman sought to link Ms. Hochul to the university’s leadership, asking whether she served on its board.“Ex officio,” Ms. Hochul responded.The exchange produced little further discussion of the allegations or the university’s handling of the case.Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who endorsed Ms. Hochul in February, also became a target for Mr. Blakeman.“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite,” Mr. Blakeman declared, offering another pointed attack on the political company kept by his opponent.Ms. Hochul, for her part, attempted to connect Mr. Trump’s tariffs to problems facing New York’s agricultural industry, including its influential dairy sector. She urged voters to consider the impact on farmers and businesses, invoking the nursery rhyme “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”“Talk to Mr. Old MacDonald’s Farm,” she said.“The Canadians are so insulted they’re not buying our products,” Ms. Hochul added.The debate underscored the competing strategies of the two campaigns: Ms. Hochul sought to make the race a referendum on Trump and his influence over New York Republicans, while Mr. Blakeman tried to keep the focus on the governor’s record, economic pressures facing residents, and the cost of living.Ms. Hochul, who became governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation in 2021, won a full term in 2022 by defeating then-Congressman Lee Zeldin. Her bid for reelection now faces a more competitive challenge from Mr. Blakeman, who used Tuesday’s debate to portray the governor as out of touch with voters struggling with the state’s economic conditions.

‘A Record of Misery and Failure’: Blakeman Comes Out Swinging Against Hochul in New York’s Only Gubernatorial Debate

‘A Record of Misery and Failure’: Blakeman Comes Out Swinging Against Hochul in New York’s Only Gubernatorial Debate

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Mamdani Invites Discord in DSA by Backing Police Commissioner Tisch

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