Blakeman Courts Donors in the Hamptons
This past Saturday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman aimed to win over wealthy donors in the Hamptons, vowing to scrap a tax on luxury second homes proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zoran Mamdani.
Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, mingled with over 80 influential figures, including CEOs and philanthropists, during a bipartisan business breakfast at 75 Main, a popular spot in Southampton hosted by billionaire John Catsimatidis.
He addressed the crowd for about 20 minutes, reiterating several of his campaign promises. Among these were plans to end New York’s designation as a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants, lower utility costs, and grant a pardon to a former NYPD sergeant. Attendees mentioned the recent manslaughter conviction of Eric Duran, who fatally shot a fleeing drug suspect after throwing a cooler at him.
However, the biggest applause came when Blakeman addressed the contentious “pied-à-terre tax.” This proposed tax targets second homes in New York City owned by non-residents, specifically condominiums and co-ops valued at over $1 million, and one- to three-family homes valued at more than $5 million.
Catsimatidis remarked that many people in the Hamptons own second homes and are curious about how this would impact them.
“A lot of people love New York and don’t want to leave, but I hope common sense prevails,” he added.
The billionaire also pointed out that Blakeman’s promises to resist Mamdani’s significant increase in New York’s inheritance tax would resonate positively, especially for middle-class families.
“You work hard your whole life; you don’t want to give it all away to the state instead of passing it to your kids,” he noted.
The energetic crowd included prominent figures like Cushman & Wakefield Chairman Bruce Mosler, Suffolk County Conservative Party Chairman Michael Torres, and former Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Richard Weinberg, all eager to engage with Blakeman in light of the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race.
Attendees speculated that Blakeman could potentially raise over $5 million from various fundraisers currently being planned, thanks to the support of those present.
Catsimatidis has a notable history of attracting both Democratic and Republican leaders to his breakfast gatherings, with past attendees including Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He mentioned that Hochul is set to attend the next breakfast in August.
