Governor of New York · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New York governor's race?
Kathy Hochul has the strongest record in the New York governor's race. Kathy Hochul scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bruce Blakeman at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Kathy Hochul's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Bruce Blakeman's highest marks are integrity and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Bruce Blakeman
Running mate: Todd Hood
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Kathy Hochul
Running mate: Adrienne E. Adams
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Bruce Blakeman
- Unresolved2026-08
The state Democratic Committee filed a Board of Elections complaint alleging his campaign broke the state AI disclosure law in ads depicting Hochul and Mamdani; his campaign says satire is exempt.
Where it stands: Filed August 2026; no Board of Elections decision reported as of 2026-10-09.
Sources: Spectrum News, Aug. 11, 2026, Daily Gazette, Aug. 2026
- Unresolved2026-08-28
The state Democratic Committee filed a Board of Elections complaint alleging he improperly used county resources by holding an Aug. 14, 2026 Trump event at the county police academy; he called it a Hail Mary.
Where it stands: Complaint filed Aug. 28, 2026 by the New York State Democratic Committee (his opponent's party); no Board of Elections action found as of 2026-10-09. Blakeman disputes it.
Sources: WAMC (New York Public News Network), Aug. 28, 2026, The Center Square, Aug. 29, 2026
- On the record2026-07-29
Asked whether he would accept the 2026 result regardless of who wins, said yes if the results are fair and reflect how people voted.
Source: City & State, July 29, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Has acknowledged two late-1990s votes as a county legislator to raise property taxes and called them a mistake.
- On the record2024-05
A Nassau County Supreme Court judge voided his February 2024 order on transgender athletes at county facilities, ruling he acted beyond his authority as county executive.
Sources: NBC News, May 2024, FOX 5 New York, May 2024
- Credit2023-04
Moody's and Fitch upgraded Nassau County's bond ratings in April 2023; Fitch cited a multi-year trend of improved budgeting and reserves.
Source: Bond Buyer, Apr. 21, 2023
Kathy Hochul
- Unresolved2024-03
A former state lobbying regulator filed a complaint with the state ethics commission over her and legislative leaders' use of the state's Buffalo Bills suite in December 2023; the commission subpoenaed Empire State Development records.
Where it stands: Complaint filed March 2024 by David Grandeau; the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government subpoenaed Empire State Development, not the governor or her office. No commission disposition was found as of 2026-10-09.
Sources: New York Focus, May 31, 2024, Fox News, 2024
- On the record2026-03
Opposed the tax increase on incomes over $5 million that Democratic legislative leaders put in their one-house budget plans in March 2026.
- On the record2026-05
The fiscal 2027 state budget, due April 1, 2026, ran more than six weeks late on a 12th extender; Spectrum News called it the fifth straight late budget.
Source: Spectrum News, May 14, 2026
- On the record2026-04
Released her 2025 tax returns for press inspection, reporting $1.86 million in household income.
Source: Spectrum News NY1, Apr. 15, 2026
- On the record2025-06-01
PolitiFact rated False her May 2025 statement that the state budget contained the largest middle class tax cut in 70 years.
Source: PolitiFact, June 1, 2025
- On the record2022-07
Her administration paid $637 million for COVID tests to a company owned by a donor family, under an emergency order that skipped comptroller review; no finding of wrongdoing was found.
Source: Fox Business, July 19, 2022
- On the record2022-01
Her campaign reimbursed the state $10,742 in January 2022 for three days of state aircraft travel used for campaigning that had been billed to taxpayers; her office said its ethics counsel reviewed all aircraft use.
Sources: WKBW, Jan. 2022, Spectrum News State of Politics, Jan. 13, 2022
- On the record2020-04-14
PolitiFact rated Pants on Fire her April 2020 description, as lieutenant governor, of Gov. Cuomo's ventilator redistribution plan as voluntary.
Source: PolitiFact, Apr. 14, 2020
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Bruce Blakeman. Made his 2025 federal tax returns available for press inspection in April 2026. No state ethics commission or Board of Elections finding naming him was found; a Democratic Party complaint over AI ads is pending (see Record).
Kathy Hochul. Made her 2025 tax returns available for press inspection in April 2026, a practice New York governors and challengers have followed for decades. No state ethics commission finding naming her was found.
Sources: Spectrum News NY1, Apr. 15, 2026, WAMC (New York Public News Network), Apr. 28, 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Bruce Blakeman. No public record found.
Kathy Hochul. In March 2026 opposed the income tax increase on incomes over $5 million that Democratic legislative leaders put in their one-house budget plans.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Bruce Blakeman. Agreed to the Oct. 13, 2026 Spectrum News debate with Gov. Hochul. Has publicly called two late-1990s votes to raise property taxes a mistake.
Sources: Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026, Spectrum News NY1, Sept. 29, 2026
Kathy Hochul. Agreed to one general election debate with Bruce Blakeman, on Spectrum News on Oct. 13, 2026, held under Public Campaign Finance Board rules.
Source: Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Bruce Blakeman. Hempstead town councilman, Nassau County legislator, Port Authority commissioner and Nassau County executive since 2022 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Bruce Blakeman
Kathy Hochul. Erie County clerk, U.S. representative, lieutenant governor from 2015 and governor since 2021 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Bruce Blakeman. Sworn county executive since 2022 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results. A state judge in 2024 ruled one of his executive orders beyond his authority (see Record).
Sources: WAMC (New York Public News Network), Apr. 28, 2026, NBC News, May 2024
Kathy Hochul. Has held sworn office as county clerk, U.S. representative, lieutenant governor and governor; no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Bruce Blakeman. Nassau County executive since 2022, reelected in 2025; earlier a Port Authority commissioner, Nassau County legislator and Hempstead town councilman.
Sources: Wikipedia, Bruce Blakeman, Campaign site
Kathy Hochul. Governor of New York since August 2021, including a full term won in 2022; lieutenant governor 2015 to 2021, U.S. representative 2011 to 2013 and Erie County clerk 2007 to 2011.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Bruce Blakeman. Proposes eliminating state income tax for joint filers earning $100,000 and single filers earning $50,000, paid for by restructuring state spending.
Kathy Hochul. Sitting governor in her first full term. Negotiated the $268 billion fiscal 2027 budget, which adds utility rebate checks and limits local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Sources: WAER / New York Public News Network, May 7, 2026, Spectrum News NY1, Sept. 29, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Bruce Blakeman. Two channels documented: campaign issue page and the Oct. 13 televised debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Bruce Blakeman
Kathy Hochul. Two channels documented: the Oct. 13 televised debate and a campaign address to the Business Council of New York State conference. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026, Spectrum News NY1, Sept. 29, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Bruce Blakeman. Born in Valley Stream in Nassau County and has held Nassau County and Hempstead offices since the 1990s. In-state share of contributions was not computed from state filings.
Source: Wikipedia, Bruce Blakeman
Kathy Hochul. Born in Buffalo; served as Erie County clerk 2007 to 2011 and lists Buffalo as her primary residence on her 2025 tax filings. In-state share of contributions was not computed from state filings.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul, Spectrum News NY1, Apr. 15, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Bruce Blakeman. Has headed Nassau County government since 2022. Moody's and Fitch upgraded the county in April 2023, citing improved budget management.
Source: Bond Buyer, Apr. 21, 2023
Kathy Hochul. Has headed New York's executive branch since 2021. No Board of Elections or ethics commission enforcement action naming her campaign was found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Bruce Blakeman. As county executive, issued the 2024 order on transgender athletes at county facilities; after a court voided it, the county legislature enacted a similar law in 2024.
Source: NBC News, May 2024
Kathy Hochul. Signed state budgets with measurable programs, including the fiscal 2027 budget creating utility rebate checks, and first-term laws on child care, the red flag law and body armor sales.
Sources: WAER / New York Public News Network, May 7, 2026, Ballotpedia, Kathy Hochul
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Bruce Blakeman. No public record found.
Kathy Hochul. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Bruce Blakeman. No public record found.
Kathy Hochul. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Bruce Blakeman. No public record found.
Kathy Hochul. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Bruce Blakeman. Moody's raised Nassau County to Aa3 and Fitch to A-plus in April 2023; Fitch cited a multi-year trend of improved budgeting practices and reserve balances.
Source: Bond Buyer, Apr. 21, 2023
Kathy Hochul. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the New York governor's race?
Kathy Hochul has the strongest record in the New York governor's race. Kathy Hochul scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bruce Blakeman at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Kathy Hochul's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Bruce Blakeman's highest marks are integrity and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the New York governor's race in 2026?
Bruce Blakeman (Republican), Kathy Hochul (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Bruce Blakeman a good candidate for Governor?
Bruce Blakeman scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kathy Hochul a good candidate for Governor?
Kathy Hochul scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.