Blakeman's campaign has run a series of AI-generated ads depicting Kathy Hochul, culminating in a minute-long July 7 video in which a deepfake Hochul delivers a fictional "confession" on taxes, tolls and bail. City & State reported in May that an earlier AI video may have violated New York's disclosure law for AI-generated political content; the campaign says the ads are satire, which it argues is exempt, and notes a small "AI" label on the video. Blakeman defended the practice on NY1 on July 9. Hochul's campaign dubbed him "Bruce (Deep) Fakeman." UPDATE (Jul 22, 2026): Blakeman continued defending the AI ads on ABC7 — "you gotta use every tool in the toolbox," calling them satire in the tradition of late-night comedy; a Hochul campaign spokesman called the ads "straight up lying."

Broadway producers gave Hochul at least $479,000 since 2022; months later she proposed a $150M expansion of the NYC theatrical tax credit, partly retroactive.

The Democrat-majority Public Campaign Finance Board denied Blakeman matching funds on a party-line 4-3 vote over a running-mate filing error; courts reversed it as "arbitrary and capricious."

By declining public matching funds, Hochul keeps her large cash lead but also escapes a rule that would have required disclosing who hosts and attends her fundraisers.

The Trump administration removed the MTA as lead of the Penn Station overhaul in favor of Amtrak; Hochul welcomed it as a savings win and withdrew NY's $1.3B. In June 2026 Amtrak and "Penn Transformation Partners" signed a pre-development agreement and unveiled a ~$7-8B design (renderings included Trump's name and a presidential seal); ~$240M federal is committed and Amtrak says it will proceed with or without the MTA. Cost-sharing remains unresolved.

The Public Campaign Finance Board disqualified Blakeman over a running-mate paperwork technicality; courts overturned the decision and restored ~$4M in funds.

Hochul touts inflation refund checks and tax cuts, but polls show most New Yorkers call the state unaffordable. Update Jul 29 2026: the next round of checks (up to $200, $1B utility-relief program) will arrive September-October, weeks before the Nov 3 election — the second straight fall delivery. Republicans call the timing a gimmick; Hochul says it is direct relief for higher utility bills.

Blakeman signed a first-in-nation ban on public face coverings used to conceal identity; a disability-rights lawsuit was filed and dismissed for lack of standing.

Hochul has cited housing costs for outmigration and at times appealed to wealthy former residents to return while opposing new taxes on the wealthy.