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.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman clashed over the passage of New York’s state budget this week, as both made their respective cases in Albany on Thursday, May 28.
Lawmakers worked late into the night on Wednesday, May 27, to finish up the $268 billion budget, nearly two months after its April 1 deadline. It gives New York City nearly $30 billion and other municipalities across the state around $1 billion as well as enacts several policy changes ranging from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) limitations and auto insurance reforms to alterations to the state’s climate law and Tier 6 pension system.
Here’s a closer look at what was included:
While Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman called it “obscene” and “a disaster” when speaking to reporters outside the state Capitol on Thursday, Hochul said she’s proud of what’s been accomplished.
“Over the last few years, we’ve really focused with an intense way like we’ve never done before on these issues because it matters,” Hochul added. “We went through a lot of battles, working through a lot of challenges, but the result is an extraordinary budget that puts families, New Yorkers, first.”
Blakeman has time to fix his matching funds problem as PCFB ruling is upheld
Blakeman again has time to right his matching funds program wrongs after a New York appeals court unanimously affirmed the decision in the Nassau County executive’s case against the state’s Public Campaign Finance Board (PCFB) on Thursday.
In March, PCFB members determined Blakeman, along with five other candidates, were not eligible to receive additional public matching 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.
Earlier this month, an Albany County Supreme Court judge reversed Blakeman’s ineligibility to participate in the state’s matching campaign funds program after the gubernatorial candidate filed a lawsuit in early April. The judge ruled 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.
The PCFB immediately appealed that ruling as some of its members said the court affirmed Blakeman and Hood were missing a certification required to access public funds. Upon it being upheld, however, PCFB Vice Chairman Brian Kolb said “it’s a great day for New York State elections.”
“This was never about Republicans versus Democrats,” Kolb’s statement continued. “This was about right versus wrong and choosing fairness over political gamesmanship. I am pleased this distraction has now ended, and we can return to the core mission of the Board.”
And Blakeman told reporters on Thursday that he’s “very gratified” and “very happy” about the decision and said he isn’t concerned about the timing of the decision.
“We all knew from day one that this was dirty politics, that this was something that was done to try and frustrate our ability to get matching funds,” Blakeman added. “Today it demonstrated that independent judiciary is still alive in New York, and that’s good for all New Yorkers.”
New York targets soaring energy bills in state budget; DiNapoli blasts Con Ed’s executive pay
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: State budget, campaign funds fight leads NY governor’s race this week
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
