Gov. Kathy Hochul started this election year with more than $20 million to spend on her campaign, giving her a large lead over rivals in both parties who hope to topple her.
The latest financial report filed by Hochul’s campaign on Jan. 15 shows she raked in about $5.5 million in contributions in the prior six month, putting her balance at $20.2 million after expenses. That’s slightly less than what she had at the same stage four years ago, when she was starting her first run for the office she had taken over months earlier with Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.
But it left her miles ahead of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who’s mounting a Democratic primary challenge against the governor who appointed him in 2022. Delgado reported raising $1.2 million in the last six months but spending even more, leaving him with a $1.1 million balance, according to state Board of Elections records.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republicans’ candidate, faces an equally massive gap after joining the race a little over a month earlier. He had $1.2 million in his account, much of which came from shifting $825,000 from his county executive coffers — hefty leftovers from his glide to reelection last year. He had raised $261,000 since setting his sights on the governor’s race.
Hochul also held a large polling lead when last measured. She was 43 points ahead of Delgado with Democratic voters and favored by 25 points over Blakeman with all New York voters surveyed by Siena College in December.
NY Dems set to hold convention in Syracuse
The first stage of Hochul-Delgado competition is approaching in a few weeks. The New York State Democratic Committee announced it will hold its convention on Feb. 6 in Syracuse for delegates to cast ballots for preferred candidates in statewide races, including the contest for governor.
The incumbent governor has been racking up endorsements from Democratic officials and is expected to win handily. The question is whether Delgado can win enough votes among the roughly 400 delegates in the Carrier Theater to reach 25% of the total — the threshold needed to secure an automatic spot on the June 23 primary ballot. Falling short would force the arduous task of gathering enough petition signatures to run.
Bruce Blakeman stakes out congestion pricing as key issue
Hochul has been touting the success of New York City’s $9 congestion toll at shrinking Manhattan traffic and raising revenue for transit upgrades since it started a year ago. Those results and greater acceptance of the charge have turned what what was once a big political risk for the governor into a bragging point.
But Blakeman represents a huge suburban county with lots of commuters and sees the toll as a continued vulnerability. He’s vowing to kill it on “Day One” if he’s elected, arguing that the daily charge has clobbered cops, nurses and others who drive to work below 60th street and hurts small businesses whose delivery costs went up as a result.
“Kathy Hochul loves to talk about affordability,” he said in a campaign statement. “But congestion pricing is a tax hike she imposed that makes New York less affordable for the people who work the hardest and have the least flexibility.”
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hochul $20M war chest gives edge over rivals in NY governor race
Reporting by Chris McKenna, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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