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.
A formerly incarcerated person was appointed to a state board that oversees conditions at New York’s correctional facilities by the Senate this week, inciting outrage from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.
Alexander Dockery was named the third commissioner of the state Commission of Correction (SCOC) on Thursday, May 4. Dockery, who was convicted of burglary charges, was granted clemency by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2023.
Nassau County Executive Blakeman slammed the decision in a statement on June 4, saying Hochul “will give you the keys to the prison” if you commit a crime in the state.
“Handing corrections oversight to a convict she personally cut loose is a slap in the face to victims and an absolute betrayal of our corrections officers,” Blakeman continued.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office commended the decision on Friday, June 5, saying Hochul “was proud to nominate him.”
“Alexander Dockery’s story is a testament to the power of rehabilitation — earning multiple degrees while incarcerated and dedicating his life to helping others. His personal story and work, both while incarcerated and since his release, will add a powerful voice to the State Commission of Correction,” the spokesperson added.
What advocates say about corrections oversight in NY
The Katal Center for Equity, Health & Justice, a group advocating for systemic change in New York, has been vocal about appointing more “reform-oriented” commissioners, including at least one formerly incarcerated person. In late 2025, Hochul and the state Legislature increased the number of SCOC commissioners from three to five following the correctional facility deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in recent years, which includes a requirement of at least one being a formerly incarcerated individual.
The advocacy group applauded the Senate’s decision to appoint Dockery on Thursday, but also called on Hochul to fill the remaining two positions.
“Today’s nomination is a critical step in the right direction, and the coalition looks forward to working with Mr. Dockery to ensure the SCOC uses its wide-ranging authority to improve conditions, save lives, and, where necessary, shut down facilities that are out of compliance with state law,” the group’s statement reads.
Blakeman also added he would hire back all the corrections officers Hochul fired “on day one,” seemingly referring to the firing of about 2,000 workers connected to the 2025 prison strike.
Hochul campaign communications director Sarafina Chitika struck back against Blakeman on Friday with the following statement: “Bruce Blakeman is once again proving that his only principle is whatever Donald Trump tells him it is — it’s why he gives Trump a pass for pardoning violent, cop-beating insurrectionists, why he had no problem with Trump’s billion dollar slush fund for January 6ers, and why he let violent crime spike to a ten-year high under his watch.”
Blakeman’s campaign AI use raises eyebrows
A state law requiring political campaigns to disclose when they’re using “materially deceptive media” doesn’t seem to be stopping the Blakeman campaign from using artificial intelligence in its advertisements.
Blakeman, along with President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have been capitalizing on the New York Knicks’ playoff run as they have all recently posted Knicks-themed photos and videos of themselves overpowering Hochul in some way, Gothamist’s Jon Campbell reports.
Specifically, the Republican gubernatorial candidate’s video from last week depicts him in a Knicks jersey stealing the ball from Hochul and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before dunking it over Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Additionally, Blakeman posted a South Park style AI-generated campaign video about green energy mandates featuring the voices of Hochul and Mamdani recreated through the use of AI, reporting by City & State revealed.
Several news outlets have said Blakeman’s campaign considers these posts to be satire, which is exempt from the state’s requirement, however, City & State said a disclaimer wasn’t originally included in the green energy mandate video but was added after the outlet inquired about it.
New York State Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick criticized the AI-generated advertisements.
“It’s obvious why Bruce Blakeman’s campaign is centered around lying and faking: his Trump-first MAGA agenda is toxic, and he knows it,” Dick said in a written statement on Friday. “AI slop cartoons about your opponent, comparing Trump to your wife, hiring an armed MAGA militia in your backyard — give it a rest, Bruce.”
NY’s redistricting efforts on the move; lawmakers temporarily ban data center construction in NY
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 prison oversight, campaign AI use top NY governor’s race this week
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
