General Election
Competing state approaches to costs, safety and federal enforcement
Kathy Hochul, governor since 2021, is seeking reelection against Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman. Their positions cover affordability, public safety, housing, immigration enforcement and energy. Polling in the record through August showed Hochul ahead; the available financial filings establish reporting periods, but not comparable fundraising or cash-on-hand totals.
Ballot not yet certified — lineup may change
Governor of New York
Affordability — Supports expanding child care, reducing insurance and utility costs, raising eligibility for rent-freeze programs, ending state income taxes on tips, and freezing SUNY and CUNY tuition. The plan also calls for utility oversight and energy-saving investments to reduce household bills.
Zohran Mamdani +7
Nassau County Executive
Public safety — Says he would bring his Nassau County leadership statewide; the campaign cites prior county hiring, patrol and response-time claims, and cooperation with ICE.
Donald Trump +4
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Affordability and taxes
New York uses an Executive Budget model: the governor submits a comprehensive plan to the Legislature, which amends and passes the budget, while the governor can approve or veto items added by the Legislature. The enacted FY 2027 budget includes child-care expansion, a $1 billion energy rebate and a state income-tax exemption for tips, so future tax and spending choices remain major levers.
Supports expanding child care, reducing insurance and utility costs, raising eligibility for rent-freeze programs, ending state income taxes on tips, and freezing SUNY and CUNY tuition. The plan also calls for utility oversight and energy-saving investments to reduce household bills.
Governor Kathy Hochul, New York StatePublic safety
New York’s FY 2027 enacted budget includes more than $900 million in public-safety funding and new measures on illegal 3-D-printed firearms. The governor proposes and administers state programs and can sign or veto legislation, but durable changes to criminal law and appropriations depend on the Legislature.
Supports targeted enforcement, more resources for law enforcement and first responders, stronger gun laws against homemade and 3-D-printed firearms, police on subway platforms, expanded SCOUT teams, and emergency-response improvements. She also links public safety to mental-health care and road-safety measures.
Governor Kathy Hochul, New York StateHousing supply and costs
State law and the budget currently support housing construction through public funding and 2026 reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act that can expedite qualifying projects while retaining local zoning and other permits. The governor’s budget and legislation can shape those programs, but localities retain zoning authority and statutory changes require legislative action.
Supports reforms to speed housing construction while retaining environmental safeguards. Her FY27 budget enacted SEQRA reforms for qualifying housing and infrastructure projects, eliminating duplicative reviews while retaining environmental criteria.
Governor Kathy Hochul, New York StateResearched & verified Sep 6, 2026. Compiled from verified public sources; claims that failed verification are excluded.
