Create account

Ongoing story / New York

The 2026 New York governor race: Kathy Hochul vs. Bruce Blakeman

Overview · reviewed November 12, 2026

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul won a second full term in New York's 2026 race for governor, defeating Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive endorsed by President Donald Trump, in a contest centered on affordability.[1][2][3] The last Siena poll before Election Day showed her with a double-digit lead.[4]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

The last Siena poll before Election Day showed her with a double-digit lead.[4]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2025-06-02 (UTC): 3%, 6 of 189 tracked outlets (2 left, 3 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-06-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-21 (UTC): 3%, 6 of 190 tracked outlets (1 left, 3 center, 2 right)Week of 2025-07-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-03 (UTC): 10%, 21 of 209 tracked outlets (5 left, 10 center, 6 right)Week of 2025-11-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-08 (UTC): 6%, 11 of 184 tracked outlets (2 left, 7 center, 2 right)Week of 2025-12-15 (UTC): 14%, 27 of 187 tracked outlets (8 left, 12 center, 7 right)Week of 2025-12-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-02 (UTC): 5%, 8 of 177 tracked outlets (2 left, 3 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-02-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-16 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-10 (UTC): 3%, 15 of 545 tracked outlets (3 left, 9 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-08-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-31 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-21 (UTC): 2%, 9 of 479 tracked outlets (1 left, 7 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-09-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-05 (UTC): 1%, 6 of 479 tracked outlets (1 left, 4 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-10-12 (UTC): 4%, 17 of 476 tracked outlets (3 left, 7 center, 7 right)Week of 2026-10-19 (UTC): 2%, 8 of 479 tracked outlets (1 left, 3 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-10-26 (UTC): 2%, 11 of 473 tracked outlets (1 left, 7 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-11-02 (UTC): 4%, 20 of 471 tracked outlets (6 left, 10 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-11-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outlets, so far

LeftCenterRightLighter bar: this week so far

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 1 more outlet off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (13 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 2, 2026610420 of 4714%
Oct 26, 202617311 of 4732%
Oct 19, 20261348 of 4792%
Oct 12, 202637717 of 4764%
Oct 5, 20261416 of 4791%
Sep 21, 20261719 of 4792%
Aug 10, 202639315 of 5453%
Feb 2, 20262338 of 1775%
Dec 15, 2025812727 of 18714%
Dec 8, 202527211 of 1846%
Nov 3, 2025510621 of 20910%
Jul 21, 20251326 of 1903%
Jun 2, 20252316 of 1893%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 4, 2026 · first reported · Headline from amNewYork

    Blakeman, Stefanik trade insults as New York Republicans lick their wounds after election defeat

Background

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul faced a Democratic primary challenge launched by Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado in June 2025. She had appointed him lieutenant governor in 2022.[5] In February 2026, Hochul chose former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate, forming the state's first women-led ticket.[6] New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Hochul that month.[7]

Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)

The Republican field narrowed before the election year. Rep. Mike Lawler decided to seek reelection to the House rather than run for governor.[8] Rep. Elise Stefanik entered the governor's race in November 2025,[9] and Blakeman launched a competing bid in December.[10] Stefanik ended her campaign later that month and said she would not seek reelection to the House.[11] Trump endorsed Blakeman the next day.[2] August 2026 reports described a planned Long Island appearance by Trump alongside Blakeman.[12]

A Siena poll conducted August 3-6 put Hochul ahead 49% to 39% among likely voters.[3] A Siena poll released September 23 showed a nine-point lead, with 50% of likely voters supporting Hochul.[13] Blakeman attacked Hochul in the race's last weeks as "Mamdani's puppet," charging that she had adopted the New York City mayor's agenda.[14] After his loss, Blakeman called Rep. Elise Stefanik "selfish" as New York Republicans fell into disarray.[15]

Supporting stories (15)
  1. Kathy Hochul wins reelection for New York governor
  2. Trump endorses Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman for NY governor
  3. Hochul leads Blakeman 49-39% in New York governor race: Siena Poll
  4. Last Siena poll before Election Day shows Hochul with comfortable double-digit lead
  5. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado
  6. Gov. Kathy Hochul taps former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as running mate
  7. Mamdani endorses Hochul for reelection as New York governor
  8. Mike Lawler to sit out New York governor
  9. Rep. Elise Stefanik announces run for New York governor
  10. Bruce Blakeman announces run for New York governor, challenging Elise Stefanik in Republican primary
  11. Rep. Elise Stefanik ends her campaign for New York governor and won't seek reelection to House
  12. Trump on Long Island to back Blakeman in heated New York governor's race
  13. Hochul holds steady lead in governor's race, Blakeman gaining favor
  14. Blakeman slams ‘Mamdani’s puppet’ Hochul over NY immigration policy, crime
  15. Blakeman rips 'selfish' Stefanik after losing New York governor's race

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 20 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Blakeman rips 'selfish' Stefanik after losing New York governor's raceHeadline from The Hill · 5 outlets

October 2026

  1. Kathy Hochul wins reelection for New York governorHeadline from NEWS10 ABC · 20 outlets
  2. Last Siena poll before Election Day shows Hochul with comfortable double-digit leadHeadline from NEWS10 ABC · 7 outlets
  3. Blakeman slams ‘Mamdani’s puppet’ Hochul over NY immigration policy, crimeHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  4. Hochul leads Blakeman 55% to 41% in new NY pollHeadline from NEWS10 ABC · 6 outlets
  5. Bruce Blakeman rides the subway as he rails against Hochul over NYC transit violenceHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  6. Mamdani admits he didn’t watch NY gov debate — but accuses Blakeman of ‘bigotry and racism’ anywayHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  7. Hochul, Blakeman clash over President Trump in New York governor's raceHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 16 outlets
  8. Hochul leads Blakeman by 12% in race for NY governor, new poll saysHeadline from Pix11 · 6 outlets

September 2026

  1. Hochul holds steady lead in governor's race, Blakeman gaining favorHeadline from Pix11 · 9 outlets

August 2026

  1. Hochul leads Blakeman 49-39% in New York governor race: Siena PollHeadline from WNYT Albany · 8 outlets
  2. Trump on Long Island to back Blakeman in heated New York governor's raceHeadline from FOX 5 New York · 8 outlets

February 2026

  1. Mamdani endorses Hochul for reelection as New York governorHeadline from MyNorthwest · 6 outlets
  2. Gov. Kathy Hochul taps former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as running mateHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 6 outlets

December 2025

  1. Trump endorses Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman for NY governorHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 14 outlets
  2. Rep. Elise Stefanik ends her campaign for New York governor and won't seek reelection to HouseHeadline from WHEC Rochester · 25 outlets
  3. Bruce Blakeman announces run for New York governor, challenging Elise Stefanik in Republican primaryHeadline from CBS News · 11 outlets

November 2025

  1. Rep. Elise Stefanik announces run for New York governorHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 22 outlets

July 2025

  1. Mike Lawler to sit out New York governorHeadline from CBS News · 6 outlets

June 2025

  1. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio DelgadoHeadline from NBC News · 6 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →