On the final day of early voting before Election Day, Governor Kathy Hochul campaigned alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the first time this cycle, while her Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, made a statewide campaign tour that ended with a rally.
Ocasio-Cortez joined Hochul at Murphy's Sports Bar in Astoria to watch the Buffalo Bills game, alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The progressive congresswoman had previously appeared with the governor at an official event on data centers last month, but Sunday marked her first in-person campaign appearance with Hochul this year.
Hochul won the 2022 governor's race by six percentage points. She leads Blakeman by double digits in the latest polls, according to the source.
'I think this is the example of how we must come together to win, period,' Ocasio-Cortez told reporters of her decision to campaign with Hochul despite ideological differences. 'The stakes are too high for us to be consumed by the narcissism of small differences.'
Hochul also appeared with Mamdani for a second time this weekend, having attended the Queens Night Market together on Halloween. The pair first hit the campaign trail together last weekend to kick off early voting.
Hochul made stops in Manhattan's Upper East and Upper West sides, areas where she performed well in 2022. When asked about the expected margin, she said, 'Plus 1 makes me happy enough. Don't worry about it.'
She called the final stretch of campaigning 'an adrenaline rush.' Earlier in the day, she walked to Barney Greengrass with retiring Representative Jerry Nadler and his preferred successor, Micah Lasher.
'I'm campaigning with almost every elected official. They want to be with me. They want to support me,' Hochul said, describing her broad coalition.
Blakeman spent Sunday in Suffolk County, Oswego County, and ended with a rally at the Olde Post Road Golf Club in Rensselaer County. Surrounded by 'Fire Hochul' signs, he criticized the governor on taxes, her decision to fire 2,000 correction officers after a wildcat strike, and a new law limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration agents.
'Everywhere I go, people are telling me how miserable they are under Kathy Hochul as our governor,' Blakeman told supporters. He added, 'I haven't heard of one atrocity in New York state that ICE has committed, what I have heard is from the families of those who were murdered by illegal migrants.'
Blakeman plans to campaign Monday in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton before attending a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. Knicks owner James Dolan, a former Hochul supporter, has contributed heavily to pro-Blakeman super PACs.
Blakeman also mocked Hochul's recent public exchange with singer Nicki Minaj, who called the governor 'an evil woman.' Hochul had responded that Minaj should get offline and stop attending Trump rallies. Blakeman said, 'Can you imagine that? Who wants to pick a fight with Nicki Minaj? I mean, that is just insane on Kathy Hochul's part.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The New York governor's race is a key contest that could signal Democratic strength in a blue state.
- AOC's endorsement of Hochul may help consolidate progressive support and boost turnout in New York City.
- Blakeman's campaign is trailing but could benefit from discontent over taxes and immigration policies.
Background
New York Governor Kathy Hochul faces Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, in the general election. Hochul won the 2022 special election by six points after replacing former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Early voting runs through Sunday, with Election Day on Tuesday.
Key Perspectives
Kathy Hochul: Argues she has built a broad coalition and is focused on winning, not the margin.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Says Democrats must come together to win despite differences, citing high stakes.
Bruce Blakeman: Accuses Hochul of mismanaging the state on taxes, public safety, and immigration enforcement.
What to Watch
- Election Day turnout and the final margin between Hochul and Blakeman.
- Whether AOC's appearance boosts Hochul's numbers in New York City.
- Blakeman's events on Monday, especially the Knicks game with James Dolan.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHochul and Ocasio-Cortez campaigned together for the first time this year as early voting ended.City & State NY: “On the final day of early voting before Election Day, Gov. Kathy Hochul opted for familiar territory: watching the Buffalo Bills game, and hitting diners in deep blue neighborhoods. But there was a brand new twist – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined her on the campaign trail for the very first time this cycle.”
- SupportedHochul appeared with Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani in Astoria, while Blakeman held a rally upstate.City & State NY: “watch the first half of the game alongside Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Murphy’s Sports Bar in Astoria”
- SupportedBlakeman made a statewide campaign tour that ended with a rally.City & State NY: “Blakeman, spent the day outside the five boroughs in a statewide blitz ending with a rally in the Capital Region.”
- Partly supportedOcasio-Cortez said, “I think this is the example of how we must come together to win, period.”City & State NY: ““I think this is the example of how we must come together to win – period,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters”
- SupportedOcasio-Cortez said the stakes were too high to be consumed by “the narcissism of small differences.”City & State NY: ““The stakes are too high for us to be consumed by the narcissism of small differences.””
- SupportedHochul won the 2022 governor’s race by six percentage points.City & State NY: “both areas she performed among her best in 2022, when she won by just 6 percentage points.”
- SupportedHochul leads Blakeman by double digits in the latest polls.City & State NY: “Blakeman, who’s trailing Hochul by double digits per the latest polls”
- SupportedHochul and Mamdani attended the Queens Night Market together on Halloween, and the weekend appearance was their second time together that weekend.City & State NY: “Hochul also appeared alongside Mamdani – who wore no Bills paraphernalia – for a second time this weekend, having attended the Queens Night Market together on Halloween.”
- SupportedHochul said, “Plus 1 makes me happy enough. Don’t worry about it.”City & State NY: ““Plus 1 makes me happy enough. Don’t worry about it,” she said .”
- Partly supportedBlakeman criticized Hochul’s decision to fire 2,000 correction officers after a wildcat strike.City & State NY: “Hochul’s decision to fire 2,000 correction officers last year after a wildcat strike”
- SupportedBlakeman planned to campaign in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton on Monday before going to a Knicks game.City & State NY: “Blakeman, who’s trailing Hochul by double digits per the latest polls, plans to campaign in half the state Monday, with events in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton, before ending the night at Madison Square Garden to cheer on the Knicks”
- SupportedBlakeman said, “Who wants to pick a fight with Nicki Minaj? I mean, that is just insane on Kathy Hochul’s part.”City & State NY: ““Can you imagine that? Who wants to pick a fight with Nicki Minaj?” he said during the rally. “I mean, that is just insane on Kathy Hochul’s part.””