New York Governor · 2026
The race for governor, head-to-head
Nonpartisan accountability — not affiliated with any candidate, party, or campaign. Equal weight, equal scrutiny; every position is sourced. Sample figures are marked illustrative until verified data is filed.
Where they stand
Issues · head-to-head
Issue
Kathy Hochul
Bruce Blakeman
Alignment
climate_energy
Backs the CLCPA clean-energy transition but in 2026 proposed adjustments that weakened near-term targets to limit ratepayer costs.
Opposes offshore wind and large battery storage, backs natural gas, and would pause electrification mandates; pledges to cut electricity bills.
Disagree
education
Fully funded Foundation Aid, universal free school meals, a statewide school smartphone restriction, and child care/pre-K expansion.
Backs school-choice and a private-scholarship tax credit, and "merit-based" admissions framing.
Disagree
housing
"Let Them Build" agenda and a five-year plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes (incl. 10,000 supportive); reports 22,000+ created/preserved in a single year.
Less developed on housing; criticizes Hochul spending on homelessness and migrants and favors tax relief over current housing programs.
Disagree
immigration
Shifted toward limiting cooperation with ICE: the 2026 budget barred masked federal agents and limited ICE access to sensitive locations (DOJ has sued).
Opposes sanctuary policies; directed Nassau law enforcement to assist ICE and vows to defy new state limits.
Disagree
public_safety
Roughly $3B in public-safety investment; National Guard and police on subways; reports subway crime near generational lows; signed post-Bruen concealed-carry and red-flag laws.
Law-and-order platform; touts expanded Nassau law enforcement and attacks bail reform and subway-safety failures.
Agree
reproductive_rights
Strong supporter; signed a six-bill provider shield package, telehealth abortion protections, and funded abortion access.
Describes himself as pro-choice and says New York abortion law is "well-settled," a decision between a woman and her physician.
Disagree
taxes_affordability
Made affordability the centerpiece: inflation refund checks up to $400, a middle-class tax cut, expanded child tax credit, and a tip-income tax exemption proposal.
Says he raised no property or sales taxes in Nassau and eliminated ~$150M in scheduled hikes; promises statewide tax relief.
Agree
transit_mta
Champions congestion pricing (after pausing then reviving it at a reduced toll) and funds MTA capital improvements.
Pledges to end congestion pricing "on Day One," calling it a regressive tax; attacks MTA fare policy.
Disagree
2Agree0Mixed6Disagree
Alignment compares candidates’ stated positions on each issue. Each stance links to its source. Sample positions illustrative pending verification.