Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman won his case against the state’s Public Campaign Financing Board, which ruled him ineligible to receive matching campaign funds earlier this year.
On Tuesday, May 12, an Albany County Supreme Court judge reversed Blakeman’s ineligibility to participate in the state’s matching campaign funds program because the board did not notify Blakeman’s campaign of the need for his running mate to separately apply for the program or give him time to make necessary corrections.
“Nothing will stop us in our mission to save New Yorkers from high taxes, out of control utility rates, and increasing crime,” Blakeman said in a statement about the ruling.
PCFB Vice Chair Brian M. Kolb said the decision is “an important affirmation” that the program “should be administered fairly and with common sense.”
“Voters deserve elections decided at the ballot box — not by partisan gamesmanship or procedural ambushes,” the statement continued. “We look forward to having this matter behind us and providing the candidate with the next steps as per the court order.”
Here’s the latest.
What happened?
During the board’s March 31 meeting, members determined Blakeman, along with five other candidates, were not eligible to receive additional funding for their campaigns due to a paperwork error. In Blakeman’s case, board members said his running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, did not file his own paperwork applying for matching funds.
The joint application rule only went into effect in December, Gothamist previously reported, and Republicans on the board chastised the decision, saying candidates weren’t notified of the need to file a new joint certification with their picks for lieutenant governor and that the form to do so was not created.
Blakeman then sued the board on April 8. The Nassau County executive was set to receive as much as $7 million through the program, other news outlets reported.
What does this mean?
Blakeman’s campaign now has a week to fix the error by filing separate matching funds application paperwork for Hood, according to the ruling.
“It’s exceedingly rare, but common sense made an appearance in Albany today,” Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra said in a written statement on Tuesday.
“Bruce Blakeman’s victory in court should clear the way for eligibility into the state’s public matching funds program,” he added. “This entire matter should never have been in question to begin with … Today’s decision is a victory for fairness and election integrity.”
Hochul’s campaign responded to Blakeman’s court victory by saying the incumbent Democrat’s campaign “continues to grow stronger and build the momentum Democrats need to win up and down the ballot this November.” Hochul declined to participate in the matching funds program.
And government watchdog group Reinvent Albany called on the PCFB to not appeal the case as CFPB Democratic Co-Director Brian Keegan said one is “likely” because the ruling “allows this campaign to address their missed filing months after the deadline.”
“We strongly urge the PCFB to move past its wrong-headed partisanship and respect the judge’s sensible decision,” Reinvent Albany’s statement released on Tuesday reads. “We hope the PCFB’s decision will be a single misstep rather than the beginning of a pattern of politicizing the state’s public campaign finance program.”
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Hochul challenger Blakeman wins NY campaign funds lawsuit
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
