New York Governor’s Race This Week is a weekly column by USA TODAY Network-New York reporters highlighting aspects of the 2026 campaign to lead the Empire State.
Albany Republicans introduced new legislation this week in hopes of altering the state’s Public Campaign Finance Board’s process after Nassau County executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman was denied matching campaign funds in late March.
During the board’s meeting on March 31, 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.
This legislation, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, would require the board to accept applications for the matching funds program that have been jointly signed by candidates for governor and lieutenant governor. It would also give denied candidates seven days to refile for the program.
“The decision by the PCFB was clearly flawed and we are putting forward a common sense solution to fix this issue,” Ortt said.
“For years, Democrats in Albany touted public campaign finance as the answer to ‘even the playing field’ and ensure fair elections. The Legislature and Governor must act to restore confidence in the system by passing this simple bill to correct the hyper-partisan decision of the PCFB. If they don’t, they will once again prove they are happy to remain complicit in rigging the system for their own political benefit,” he added.
Blakeman was set to receive as much as $7 million through the program, other news outlets reported, and his campaign filed a lawsuit against the decision in the state Supreme Court in Albany on April 8.
“I’m challenging Kathy Hochul right now: support this common-sense cure period and fix the mistake your own administration made,” Blakeman said. “If you truly believe in fair elections, you have no reason to oppose it — unless you’re more interested in silencing your competition than explaining why New York has become unaffordable under your watch.”
The governor’s office says Hochul “will review any bill that passes both houses of the legislature,” and Hochul’s campaign declined to comment on the legislation.
Blakeman proposes income-tax cuts, axing sanctuary state status
Blakeman shared his “Affordability Mandate” with the New York Post earlier this week, touting measures he would take in his first 100 days as New York’s governor. According to the Post, Blakeman would pursue the following:
“Every time a New Yorker pays a utility bill or swipes their card at the grocery store, they are paying the ‘Hochul Surcharge,’ Blakeman said in a written statement. “My Affordability Mandate is designed to end Hochul’s reign of record-high costs and give New Yorkers the massive, permanent raise they deserve by cutting income taxes and slashing utility bills in half.”
In response, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said: “We know what ‘100% MAGA’ Bruce Blakeman’s first 100 days as governor would look like — a messier copy of Donald Trump’s: Jacking up costs and raising taxes like he did in Nassau, letting ICE abuse their power across New York and gutting Medicaid.”
Hochul bans NY employees from prediction market insider trading
Hochul issued an executive order on Wednesday, April 22, that bans state employees from engaging in insider trading on prediction markets.
Prediction markets allow people to place bets on the outcomes of real world events such as military activity and election results as well as other situations such as what public officials will wear at appearances and how many social media posts someone will make.
The order, which goes into effect immediately, stops state officers and employees from using confidential information they obtained through their official duties to attain personal financial gains through these markets, Hochul said. This extends to others as well, since the ban also keeps state employees from helping others profit from these markets based on the confidential information they have.
“Getting rich by betting on inside information is corruption, plain and simple,” Hochul said.
“Our actions will ensure that public servants work for the people they represent, not their own personal enrichment. While Donald Trump and D.C. Republicans turn a blind eye to the ethical Wild West they’ve created, New York is stepping up to lead by example and stamp out insider trading,” she added.
NY lawmakers pushing to limit use of $7.5M plane; congressman claims campaign forgery
Here are some additional topics related to the governor’s race that the USA TODAY Network-New York has reported on this week:
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 Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Inside Blakeman’s 100-day plan if elected as NY governor
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
