Allegations Against Michael Blake’s Business Associate

A Democratic candidate for a New York congressional primary is facing troubling allegations involving violence. The candidate, Michael Blake, works closely with Andre Gudger, who is accused of beating his infant son and attempting to strike his pregnant girlfriend, according to court documents.

Gudger, who serves as the CEO of a Maryland defense contractor called Eckeron, has been named in several domestic lawsuits since 2019, all of which were ultimately dismissed.

Blake, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Representative Richie Torres for the congressional seat, has characterized Gudger as a “visionary.” This news comes on the heels of Blake’s former campaign for mayor of New York, which he lost in 2025, during which he made controversial remarks about former Virginia Governor Justin Fairfax, who has a troubled past involving the death of his wife.

In a heartfelt social media post, Blake urged his followers to remember Fairfax’s “legacy.”

The nature of Blake and Gudger’s relationship is primarily financial; Eckeron owns Next Level Sports & Entertainment, with Blake holding the position of president. Blake has been under scrutiny for his management capabilities.

Financial records indicate that in 2024, Blake earned a salary ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, even though he had claimed to have left Ekalon, a separate company, in 2020. Records show he began receiving consulting fees from Ekalon in 2018 during his tenure as a New York state legislator.

Since Blake’s employment, Gudger has faced shocking allegations. Court records from December 2019 reflect a former partner’s claims that Gudger attempted to shove and hit her while pulling their one-year-old child from her arms during a dispute. This incident reportedly involved other witnesses, including three children.

An additional complaint from 2022 accused Gudger of striking a three-year-old with a belt, leading to a temporary restraining order when the judge found reasonable cause of harm. This case was dismissed with a mutual agreement that Gudger undergo anger management and parenting training.

Furthermore, another complaint described Gjduger and his brother inappropriately touching their children’s bodies, with the act characterized as an ongoing issue affecting the children’s emotional well-being.

The children’s mother stated in the petition that the children are seeing a therapist to deal with emotional abuse attributed to Gudger’s behavior.

Most recently, Blake made a public statement acknowledging Gudger at an April press conference, emphasizing ownership in the business and the importance of black leadership.

Neither Blake nor Gudger responded to requests for comments on the matter.