Hochul and Blakeman Clash in Political Jabs
Governor Kathy Hochul recently took a dig at her Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman, suggesting that Elise Stefanik “probably” would pose a more formidable challenge in the upcoming general election.
This comment elicited a response from Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive, who compared Hochul to the Disney villain Cruella de Vil from “101 Dalmatians.”
During a discussion with the Newsday Editorial Board, Hochul expressed confidence in her standing against Blakeman, citing her strong lead in current polls.
“I think,” she remarked, “it would have been a different race.” She noted that Stefanik is part of the House Republican leadership, enjoys significant national backing, and has a knack for fundraising.
Despite this, Hochul still anticipated winning against Upstate Rep. Stefanik, who is set to retire from the House by year’s end.
Stefanik’s campaign account reportedly holds $10.8 million, though she did not pursue a gubernatorial run.
Hochul referenced her own polls, claiming they also show her leading against Stefanik.
In a swift rebuttal, Blakeman’s team issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that “Cruella de Vil would have been a tougher opponent than Cassie Hochul.”
Stefanik declined to provide any remarks regarding the feud.
Hochul is aiming for her second four-year term following her ascension to office after former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation in 2021. In the previous election, she edged out Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin, securing her victory by a mere six points in the traditionally Democratic state.
Financially, Hochul holds a considerable advantage over Blakeman. The upcoming campaign finance filing is due July 15; however, as it stands, Hochul’s campaign boasted around $20 million, whereas Blakeman had about $1.4 million. There’s potential for Blakeman to receive an additional $3 million to $4 million in public matching funds.
Moreover, the state Democratic Party’s account has around $14 million accessible for promoting a statewide ticket headed by Hochul. In contrast, the Republican Party’s resources are considerably lower, with less than $1 million in cash.
In response to the disparity, a super PAC titled “Make It Cheap” has emerged to bolster Blakeman’s campaign, taking advantage of the unlimited funding allowed for super PACs.
Hochul expressed optimism to Newsday regarding the retention of two Democratic seats in the Long Island district and the possibility of flipping some Republican-held seats in northern New York. She is particularly hopeful about military veteran Kate Conley’s chance of defeating Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley’s 17th District.
