Hochul, Blakeman debate live updates: Combative debate wraps as Trump, affordability take center stage
New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman came out swinging as soon as the only debate of their neck-and-neck gubernatorial race got underway Tuesday night.
The incumbent stumbled in her opening statement as she tried to make her affordability pitch to voters and compared Blakeman to President Trump, who has backed and stumped with the Nassau County executive.
She mentioned the commander in chief more than a dozen times over the course of the hour-long debate.
“That’s all you can talk about,” charged Blakeman, who in turn dinged Hochul on her ties to socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Blakeman blasted Hochul early over the Empire State’s sanctuary policies on federal immigration enforcement in the wake of ICE agents shooting an illegal immigrant in the Bronx last week.
He also accused Hochul, a trustee at Cornell University, of failing to act after seven frat brothers were accused of gangrape at the Ivy League school.
What to know about Tuesday’s Hochul, Blakeman debate
- Blakeman has big lead over Hochul among independent voters — but Dem ahead overall: poll
- Hochul brushes off outrage over why migrants keep getting released, re-arrested under NY’s bail, sanctuary laws
- Blakeman: I’m the only choice to protect Jews from Mamdani — Post exclusive
Live updates on the Hochul-Blakeman debate have ended. Please read on for all the highlights:
Hochul backs deal that will ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC
By
Carl Campanile
Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed a deal announced Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker July Menin to phase out New York’s iconic horse carriage industry.
“I support what they did,” Democrat Hochul said during the NY1 governor’s debate Tuesday night.
Her Republican rival, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, hemmed and hawed before saying he would study the issue.
Hochul brought up Trump more than a dozen times in debate against Blakeman: ‘That’s all you can talk about’
By
Carl Campanile
Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul repeatedly sought to tie Republican rival Bruce Blakeman to President Trump in the only debate for governor.
During one exchange, Hochul mentioned Trump seven times and claimed Blakeman won’t disagree with him.
She mentioned Trump’s name more than a dozen times during the one hour debate.
“That’s all you can talk about,” Blakeman said.
He said Hochul was trying to divert attention from her failing policies on stopping crimes committed by illegal immigrants and crime, and reining in New York’s high taxes and spending and utility costs.
Blakeman differentiated himself from Trump, saying he’s pro-choice on abortion.
NY debate for governor wraps as Trump, affordability take center stage
By
Craig McCarthy
That’s all, folks!
The sole debate between Gov. Kathy Hochul and GOP challenger Bruce Blakeman has wrapped.
Hochul continued to try to tie Blakeman to Trump, while Blakeman hit Hochul on affordability.
Blakeman repeatedly distanced himself from Trump but showed support for the president.
Surprisingly, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was only the focus of a testy exchange in the closing minutes of the debate when he was brought up by a moderator.
Blakeman blasted Mamdani and claimed the anti-Israel democratic socialist was antisemitic.
Blakeman gives Mamdani a compliment after calling him antisemitic
By
Craig McCarthy
and
Vaughn Golden
Bruce Blakeman gave Mayor Zohran Mamdani a rare compliment, commending him on NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
“I stand with the men and women in blue every day of the week,” Blakeman said. “I know how hard they work.
“They put their lives on the line and I support the leadership of Jessica Tisch.
“I have a lot of confidence in Jessica Tisch,” Blakeman said at another point, supporting the mayor’s pick to lead the department.
“If there’s a compliment I could give to Zohran Mamdani it’s for Keeping her has the police commissioner,” Blakeman said.
The Democratic Socialist mayor is facing calls from his lefty allies to scrap the commissioner after the NYPD’s handling of an ICE shooting in Marble Hill last week.
Blakeman goes after Hochul ally Zohran Mamdani: He ‘is an anti-semite, anti-Christian’
By
Craig McCarthy
The Nassau exec tied Gov. Hochul to her pal in NYC and accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of being “anti-semite” and “anti-Christian.”
“Anti-semitism is on the rise, and it’s occurred under your watch. And Zohran Mamdani is fueling it,” Blakeman fumed.
“The first thing he did as mayor with all the issues that face New York City, the first thing he did was sign an executive order to watered-down the definition of anti-Semitism,” he continued, adding, “Shame on you, mayor.
“You are campaigning around the state with a guy who doesn’t believe in American values. He talks about collectivism. That means you take personal property rights away. You take other people’s property rights. This is a guy that’s anti-Christian.”
“Look, if you want to campaign with him, that’s fine. But I will tell you right now, I think Zohran Mamdani is an anti-Semite.”
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