Super PAC spending of $61.4M on state elections sets record, report says

ALBANY — Several Long Island politicians were among those who benefited from a record amount of super PAC spending on state politics during the 2026 election cycle, according to a new report.

In total, super PACs spent $61.4 million this cycle on state races, up from $41.7 million in 2022, a 47% increase, said the report from Citizens Union, a New York City-based good government group.

Those elections included the governor’s race between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, her Republican opponent.

If spending on the state’s congressional races is included, that number rises to $170 million. That figure does not include the millions of dollars the candidates’ own campaigns raised and spent.

Ben Weinberg, Citizen Union’s director of public policy, said the increased spending on super PACs allows corporations and wealthy individuals to get around strict individual campaign giving limits and spend as much as they want on their candidates of choice. "And the reason they make that spending is because they believe it will be financially beneficial for them," he said.

The biggest spender this past cycle was ride-sharing company Uber, which spent $15 million. Uber also spent millions earlier this year lobbying state leaders to support auto insurance changes.

The company’s spending largely went toward supporting Hochul during the primary election cycle, although Hochul did not have a primary opponent.

The report also flags an increase in "dark money" in the state’s elections, where super PAC money flows through pass-through entities, making it difficult or impossible to know who is behind those donations.

Blakeman was among the largest beneficiaries from that emerging trend.

Securing American Greatness, a dark-money group founded by an ally of President Donald Trump, gave $2 million to Strong and Safe New York, the largest super PAC supporting Blakeman in late October.

Weinberg said the spread of dark money was something that typically happens more at the federal level. "We're looking at the kind of the local version of national trends and in the growth of dark money," he said.

Strong and Safe New York received more than $11 million in contributions, including $5 million from entities controlled by New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan. The super PAC spent more than $8 million.

A spokesman for Strong and Safe New York did not respond to a request for comment.

The sports betting industry was the largest industry trying to influence the state legislative races, according to the report. Gambling firms gave $10.5 million in 33 legislative and statewide races all around the state.

Some of those races involved incumbents with no opponent or those who faced only token opposition, Weinberg said.

"What we see is super PAC spending as a tool for gaining favors with elected officials, or seeking influence rather than actually seeking their election victory, which is in these cases all but assured," he said.

Three Long Island state legislative candidates, Assemb. Kwani O’Pharrow (D-North Amityville), state Sen. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), and Assemb. Judy Griffin (D-Rockville Centre), were in the top five of super PAC spending in the general election among legislative races.

All three saw more than $500,000 in super PAC spending to support them.

O’Pharrow race drew $671,000 from New York Future, the group backed by sports betting interests such as Draft Kings. O’Pharrow previously told Newsday he did not know the reason why the group chose to back him.

Candidates and super PACs are banned from coordinating with each other.

The super PAC spending went beyond corporations.

Several wealthy individuals, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, donated large amounts. Bloomberg gave $5.8 million to super PACs, with $3.3 million to pro-charter-school super PACs and $2.5 million to support Hochul.