Bruce Blakeman Says Kathy Hochul Campaigning With Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani Will Help His Campaign

Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman says Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to campaign alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani could work in his favor, arguing that the Democratic governor’s alliance with the self-described socialist will alienate moderate and independent voters.

Blakeman made the remarks Thursday during a campaign appearance in the Bronx, where he welcomed news that Hochul and Mamdani would appear together ahead of the November 3 election.

The Nassau County executive said he believes the more voters see Hochul campaigning with Mamdani, the more attention will be drawn to the ideological direction of New York’s Democratic leadership.

“I think that the more Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani campaign together the more likely it is that I will have not only a victory but a very very astounding victory,” Blakeman declared.

The Republican candidate was speaking outside the Crosstown Diner, where he received an endorsement from former Democratic Bronx Assemblyman and City Councilman Stephen Kaufman.

Blakeman argued that Mamdani’s criticism of his campaign has already encouraged some voters to reconsider their political allegiances.

“Zohran Mamdani has attacked me. The more he attacks me, the more Democrats who come over to support me. The more independent voters who come over to support me,” he said.

The Republican nominee went further, encouraging Mamdani to spend as much time as possible campaigning with Hochul during the final days before Election Day.

“So I just hope Zohran Mamdani is real active for the next 11 days with Kathy Hochul campaigning together all around the state. I think it’s a big boost to my campaign,” Blakeman continued.

“Thank you to both of them for appearing together. Keep doing it!” he added, pumping his fist.

Hochul and Mamdani are scheduled to campaign together Friday, one day before early voting begins across New York.

The appearance represents an effort by the Democratic governor to energize voters in New York City, where Mamdani maintains a substantial following.

Mamdani, who took office as mayor in January, has advocated expanding government services, increasing taxes on wealthy residents and pursuing a broader progressive economic agenda.

Hochul has maintained a more moderate public image on several economic issues, although she has worked with Mamdani on policies involving childcare and other state-funded programs.

Their decision to campaign together gives Blakeman an opportunity to emphasize those connections as he seeks to persuade voters dissatisfied with the state’s direction.

The Republican has repeatedly criticized Mamdani’s economic proposals and accused Democratic leadership of making New York increasingly expensive for residents and businesses.

His campaign has focused on reducing taxes, lowering utility costs, improving public safety and changing the state’s approach to government spending.

Hochul, meanwhile, has defended her administration’s record and emphasized tax relief, childcare assistance and other initiatives intended to address affordability.

The governor’s campaign has also criticized Blakeman’s relationship with President Trump, portraying the Republican nominee as closely aligned with the White House.

Blakeman has embraced his support from the president, who recently traveled to Syracuse to campaign on his behalf.

The Republican nominee has argued that cooperation between Albany and Washington would help New York secure federal assistance and pursue policies intended to strengthen its economy.

Thursday’s Bronx campaign stop also highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party.

Stephen Kaufman, a former Democratic lawmaker who described himself as a moderate, announced that he was endorsing Blakeman rather than Hochul.

Kaufman delivered a sharp criticism of his own party, accusing its leadership of abandoning moderate voters and embracing increasingly radical positions.

“The Democratic party, I’m sad to say, has been a house of horrors. A house of hatred,” Kaufman said.

“There’s no room for moderate people and moderation within its ranks,” he continued.

Kaufman argued that voters across the political spectrum should reject ideological extremes and demand a different approach to governing.

“This is something we all have to repudiate whether you’re Republican, conservative or Democrat. We have to yank our civilization back to the middle,” he said.

The former Democratic official also criticized Hochul’s energy policies, particularly her opposition to expanding natural gas drilling in New York.

He argued that the state’s restrictions on energy production have contributed to financial pressure on households and businesses.

Energy affordability has become a significant issue in the gubernatorial campaign as New Yorkers contend with high electricity and heating costs.

Kaufman also questioned the state’s spending priorities, arguing that Albany has committed substantial resources to programs involving migrants while many longtime residents struggle with everyday expenses.

The concerns were echoed by Crosstown Diner owner Billy Tsibidis, who described the financial burden facing his restaurant.

Tsibidis said his business pays approximately $15,000 each month for electricity, an expense he believes reflects the state’s increasingly difficult environment for small businesses.

“We have to sell well over 1,000 burgers just to pay our utility bill,” he explained.

The restaurant owner criticized Hochul’s administration, arguing that state policies have made it harder for independent businesses to remain profitable.

“They’re anti-business! It’s almost like they’re trying to drive all the little businesses out of the state. I don’t get it,” Tsibidis said.

The governor’s supporters have defended her energy and economic policies, pointing to investments in infrastructure, clean energy and programs intended to reduce costs for households.

However, utility bills and business expenses remain prominent concerns among voters as the election approaches.

The political impact of Hochul’s partnership with Mamdani is uncertain.

While Blakeman believes the association will drive moderate voters toward his campaign, Democratic strategists see the mayor as an important figure for increasing turnout in New York City.

Mamdani has maintained popularity among progressive voters, particularly younger residents who supported his mayoral campaign.

Hochul’s campaign is seeking to benefit from that enthusiasm while also appealing to suburban and upstate voters.

The governor’s campaign responded to Blakeman’s comments by highlighting a previous assessment from a Republican strategist associated with a political action committee supporting him.

Chapin Fay, who works with the pro-Blakeman Strong and Safe New York super PAC, previously described Mamdani as one of the world’s most popular political figures.

The comment followed a meeting between Mamdani and President Trump at Gracie Mansion last month.

That meeting has complicated Republican efforts to portray the mayor exclusively as a political adversary, particularly because Trump has maintained a cordial relationship with him despite their substantial policy disagreements.

Blakeman has nevertheless continued emphasizing the ideological differences between Mamdani and voters who favor lower taxes and more limited government.

Recent polling shows Hochul maintaining a lead in the governor’s race.

A Quinnipiac University survey placed the Democratic incumbent ahead of Blakeman by 55% to 41%, a 14-point margin.

Mamdani’s representatives pointed to that poll when asked about the Republican candidate’s latest remarks.

Blakeman dismissed the survey as inaccurate, arguing that it underestimated Republican support.

He cited internal Republican polling that reportedly placed Hochul’s advantage at approximately four percentage points.

Campaign-sponsored polls can differ substantially from independent surveys because of differences in methodology, turnout assumptions and the voters included in their samples.

The public Quinnipiac findings nevertheless indicate that Hochul held a significant advantage among the voters surveyed.

New York has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki won his final term in 2002.

Hochul defeated Republican Lee Zeldin in 2022 by approximately six percentage points, a relatively narrow margin for a statewide Democratic victory in New York.

Blakeman is attempting to build on the coalition that supported Zeldin while attracting additional Democrats and independent voters concerned about affordability and public safety.

The endorsement from Kaufman gives his campaign a prominent example of a former Democratic officeholder willing to support the Republican nominee.

Hochul, meanwhile, is working to consolidate Democratic support and encourage participation in New York City.

Her upcoming appearance with Mamdani reflects the importance of turnout in the five boroughs, where Democratic candidates traditionally receive substantial support.

The governor has also been campaigning across the state, highlighting her administration’s accomplishments and warning voters about the policies Blakeman would pursue.

Early voting begins Saturday, October 24, and continues through November 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

With the race entering its final stretch, the two campaigns are offering sharply different interpretations of Hochul’s decision to appear alongside Mamdani.

For the governor, the joint appearance is an opportunity to energize Democratic voters and highlight cooperation between state and city leadership.

For Blakeman, it provides another opening to question the direction of New York’s Democratic Party and emphasize his differences with the mayor’s economic agenda.

The Republican nominee has made clear that he welcomes the partnership, insisting that every additional appearance by Hochul and Mamdani gives him another opportunity to make his case to New York voters.