Blakeman raises $11M in bid for NY governor — enough for competitive race against Hochul

Republican Bruce Blakeman has raised $11 million in his underdog campaign for governor — enough money to run a competitive campaign against Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, his campaign said Monday.

“Hochul may have the office, but we have the unstoppable force of New Yorkers fed up with a state they can no longer afford,” Blakeman for New York finance chair Howard Fensterman told The Post.

“We knew from day one that running an underdog campaign meant running against the full force of the governor’s mansion — an office that went so far as to try to illegally block our campaign funding,” he said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s campaign announced that the Nassau County executive has raised $11 million in the race against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post

“Yet, Blakeman for New York has raised nearly $11 million from over 10,000 supporters and will unlock an additional $1.5 million in funding that Hochul unsuccessfully tried to block us from.”

Fensterman was referring to the state’s Democratic-controlled Public Campaign Finance Board attempting to deny Blakeman access to matching funds during a paperwork filing dispute.

A state appeals court in May ruled the board acted improperly — giving the Nassau County executive the ability to tap into $4 million in public funds under the state program.

The next round of campaign fundraising reports are due on Wednesday, and the Hochul campaign has yet to release her haul.

Friends for Kathy Hochul had about $20 million in its campaign account, according to her previous January filing.

Hochul has $20 million in her campaign account, according to January filings. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The state Democratic Party also had $14 million on hand in its accounts that could be tapped to help elect the Hochul-led statewide ticket.

The state Republican Party had less than $1 million on hand.

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A pro-Blakeman Super PAC called “Make It Cheaper” has formed to help level the playing field. Super PACs can accept unlimited donations.

Hochul is seeking a second full, four-year term after the former lieutenant governor first took office after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in 2021.

She won the office outright in 2022 by just 6 points in the deeply blue Empire State over then-Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin, now Trump’s Environmental Protection administrator.