Bruce Blakeman, Kathy Hochul clash over immigration, Trump and taxes in lone debate

Hochul, Blakeman spar over immigration, data centers, energy and President Trump in lone debate

Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican rival Bruce Blakeman squared off in the lone campaign debate of the gubernatorial election on Tuesday night, sparring over crime, immigration, data centers, tariffs, energy prices and President Donald Trump.

They fought over prison guards, a high-profile rape case at Cornell University, natural gas drilling and who was a bigger union supporter during a hard-hitting, fast-paced hour hosted by NY1/Spectrum News.

Some of their sharpest exchanges came over Trump — Hochul repeatedly reminding voters of the Nassau County executive's close ties with the president and the Republican saying the governor uses Trump as an excuse for her record.

"You don’t have the spine to stand up to Donald Trump," Hochul said at one point.

"Trump. Trump. Trump. That’s all you can say," Blakeman said at another.

"Well, you love him," she replied.

"And you blame him" for everything, the Republican answered, before the news anchors struggled to regain control of the questioning.

Read more here.

Who won? A political strategist offers his opinion

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman sparred over a range of issues during the course of their hourlong debate in the race to determine who runs New York State for the next four years.

The candidates had sharp disagreements, whether on immigration enforcement, in which Hochul said a Blakeman administration would allow federal agents to "run rampant in our streets," and the county executive saying the governor spent billions of dollars on immigrants who came to the country illegally, to President Donald Trump, (Hochul said Blakeman refuses to challenge the president; Blakeman responded that he has disagreed with Trump but his relationship with the president was Hochul's only focus.) to taxes, which Hochul vowed not to raise and Blakeman promised to lower.

Overall Hochul focused heavily on Trump and Blakeman focused on policy issues, said Hank Sheinkopf, a Manhattan-based political strategist who has worked for Democratic and Republican candidates.

Who won? "No one won the debate," Sheinkopf told Newsday. "She fumbled, Blakeman fumbled."

Sheinkopf noted that Blakeman was aggressive in his first statewide appearance with Hochul and made "smart" arguments about her labor record and tied labor issues to the economy. He also tied Hochul to Mamdani, which will help him hold his suburban voters, Sheinkopf said.

Hochul spent much of the debate tying Blakeman to Trump, which is good from her perspective, and could help turnout, particularly in the city, which she need, he said.

Michael McKeon, a partner with Actum and the former communications director for Gov. George Pataki, said both candidates did well for themselves.

Blakeman needed to win the debate in a landslide to make up ground in the race but he didn't quite get there, McKeon said.

"They both went at it pretty hard right from the get go, all the way through to the end, but I think that they both held their own," he said.

Hochul made a point to tie Blakeman to President Donald Trump and Blakeman had no choice but to lean into it, McKeon said.

Blakeman calls New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani antisemitic

Blakeman called New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani antisemitic, adding that antisemitism is on the rise in the state and it’s happening under Hochul’s watch.

He tied Hochul to Mamdani, noting that she’s been standing by him.

Hochul wants 'framework' for data centers

Hochul said she wants to leave the decision of whether to have data centers up to the localities, but she’d like to come with a “framework,” requiring the data centers to benefit the community and come with their own power.
Blakeman took issue with Hochul’s one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers, asking why she needs another year when the industry has been growing for four years.

Long Island Voters Guide 2026: NYS, Nassau and Suffolk county elections

The race for Governor has top billing in this election, but over 100 other candidates want your vote, too. Check out our Voters Guide and see who else is on your ballot and where they stand on the issues.

Hochul: Should have fought harder for housing

When asked if there was a decision they would change, Blakeman didn't have a clear answer, but said he’s sure he’s made mistake here and there.
“I rely on good people for advice, and when it's time to make a decision, I make the decision, he said.
Hochul said she wished she had fought harder on the issue of housing in her first year as governor.

Blakeman: I have differences with Trump

Blakeman said that while he supports Trump, he differs from him on various policies.

For example, the president is pro-life and Blakeman said he is pro-choice. The county executive also said he believes that if an immigrant has been in the country for nine to 10 years and is gainfully employed, they should be allowed to stay through a guest worker program.

Blakeman says overregulation, taxes the problem, not tariffs

A question about tariffs and their impact on the North Country gives both candidates a chance to pivot. Blakeman says overregulation and taxes are the problem, not President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Hochul touted the state’s work with the dairy industry and then said ICE raids were depriving farmers of workers they rely on.

Hochul: Trump 'playing politics'

Hochul blamed President Donald Trump for "playing politics" holding up her clean energy projects including nuclear power. She also blamed the war with Iran for raising energy and gasoline costs.

"My god, the people are suffering," she said. "Why are we at war with the rest of the world."

Blakeman responded saying Hochul’s "green energy scam" offshore wind and solar projects have helped drive costs, as well as energy rate increases approved by her administration. "Donald Trump didn’t raise utility rates 48 times, you did," he said.

Blakeman said he plans to allow fracking to help lower energy costs.

Hochul responded saying his promises are similar to when Trump took office promising to lower costs, calling Blakeman "president of the fan club for Donald Trump."

Blakeman noted that Trump is his friend and endorsed him, as have some Democrats. "Your record is a record of misery and failure," he said. 

ICE shooting sparks back and forth on immigration

Hochul and Blakeman got into a back and forth after a question from Errol Louis on the shooting last week of Oscar Belgal in New York City.

Immigration, and working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been one of the biggest themes of the campaign.

Under Blakeman, Nassau County had two cooperation agreements with ICE, allowing local police to work with federal immigration authorities on civil immigration enforcement.

"If you cooperate with federal law enforcement, it makes for a safer community," Blakeman said.

Hochul signed legislation in May that ended those agreements. A group of sheriffs has sued to overturn it.

Hochul said the shooting of Belgal, while his five-year-old son was in the backseat, "shocks the conscience."

Hochul, Blakeman open debate with disagreements, comebacks

The gubernatorial debate between Gov. Kathy Hochul and challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, got off to a rousing start with the candidates showing sharp disagreements on immigration, affordability and taxes.

Blakeman opened by accusing Hochul of spending billions of dollars on immigrants who came to the country illegally. "I believe she’s got her priorities upside down, so I’m going to ask you to vote for change," he said.
Hochul similarly opened with affordability, saying she came from humble beginnings and knows the struggles families face. She touted middle class tax cuts and energy and inflation rebates under her tenure as governor, as well as low crime rates.

"We’re not done yet," Hochul said.

Hochul said Blakeman plans to bring Trump style leadership to Albany and let U.S. immigration enforcement "run rampant in our streets," adding, "This is your choice New Yorkers."

Here's what strategists said ahead of debate

Political strategists recently outlined their take on what Blakeman and Hochul need to do to come out the victor in tonight's debate. 

"His audience really is the donor class," said Michael McKeon, a GOP consultant and former press secretary to the last Republican to become New York governor, George Pataki.

"The issue is, if Blakeman can have a strong [debate] performance and generate buzz and then use that to drive money to his campaign for a strong finish," McKeon said. "But it’s getting very late. This is probably the last week he has to make a difference to raise money and spend it in time."

Neal Kwatra, a Democratic campaign consultant, said Hochul needs to show she's attuned to New Yorkers' concerns. 

"Hochul needs to show she is not out of touch, that she recognizes people are struggling and that there is an affordability crisis. She has to guard against looking like she’s disconnected from everyday people," Kwatra said.

Read more from these strategists here.

How are Hochul and Blakeman doing on the money front?

The latest campaign finance filings show a wide gulf over how much Hochul and Blakeman have on hand with less than one month into the election.

As of early October, Hochul had at least $18 million on hand versus Blakeman's $178,000. Both raised a combined $20 million between July and October, filings show. 

Here's a recent look at where the candidates stand financially. 

Who is Bruce Blakeman?

Bruce Blakeman is the Nassau County county and Republican candidate for governor challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

Blakeman has served in several roles as a public official, dating back to 1993 when he was ran and won a seat for Hempstead Town Council. Since then, Blakeman has been a legislator and presiding officer for the Nassau County Legislature and now Nassau's 10th county executive. 

He took a break from public life, serving as a consultant, attorney and commissioner on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 

Read Newsday's Political Reporter Bahar Ostadan's profile of Blakeman here. 

Who is Gov. Kathy Hochul?

Kathy Hochul is vying for a second full term as New York's 57th governor. 

In a profile about Hochul published in June, Newsday Albany Correspondent Keshia Clukey wrote that, "Hochul stands 5-foot-3 and greets people with a polished smile. She's high-energy but doesn't drink coffee and would rather be traveling — a trait she carries over from her lieutenant governor days, when she visited all of the state's 62 counties at least once each year.

As governor, she oversees a more than $260 billion budget, more than 183,900 state employees across 20 departments and more than 70 agencies and authorities, and is commander in chief of the state's naval and military forces."

Read Clukey's profile of Hochul here.