Spectrum News NY1 (Dan Rivoli)Tier 2
Blakeman picks up an endorsement from former Queens Council Member Bob Holden and pitches himself as a "pro-choice Republican" Democrats can back; Hochul campaign calls the endorsement phony, noting Holden has run on the GOP line
Published Sept. 23 (7:50 PM ET), after the prior refresh window. Campaign stop at Middle Village Bagels in Queens. Blakeman repeated his claims that NY utility bills are 70% above the national average and that Hochul approved 48 rate hikes (campaign claims, not independently verified here). Holden said opposition to the Interborough Express and the housing that would come with it could be turned into Blakeman votes. Hochul spokesman Ryan Radulovacki: "earn your support, don't fake it." NY1 cites Independent Voter Project data: Democrats 47.6% vs. Republicans 22.6% of registered voters.
Related fact-checks
Blakeman says he will cut utility rates in half by signing an "emergency order" lifting New York's fracking banMostly False"There were no deaths at the hands of ICE in Nassau County." — Bruce Blakeman, Capital Tonight, Aug 26, 2026Half True"Our electric bills are 70% higher than the national average." — Bruce Blakeman, Livingston County GOP rally, Avon, reported Aug 19, 2026Half True
More on campaign
NYS Focus · Sep 30, 2026NYS Focus review finds Blakeman's matching-funds requests included more than 2,600 ineligible donations worth about $860K in potential match; the board did not answer questions about his contributionsNY1 / State of Politics · Sep 30, 2026Blakeman pitches income-tax exemption for earners under $50K single / $100K joint (about $4,000 a year, paid for by redirecting immigrant and refugee aid); Hochul cites no income or corporate tax increases and her rebatesNY1 / State of Politics · Sep 29, 2026Hochul campaign says it raised more than $8.5M in September, $5.9M of it for the state Democratic Party; figures are campaign-announced, not yet a BOE filingNew York Public News Network via WAMC (Jon Campbell) · Sep 25, 2026Hochul says she will campaign with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at multiple events before Election Day as AOC starts a statewide tour; Blakeman says the more AOC campaigns for Hochul, the better his chances
Source: Spectrum News NY1 (Dan Rivoli) · Sep 24, 2026 · Credibility Tier 2 · Permalink https://reviewhochul.com/news/blakeman-holden-endorsement-queens-2026-09-23
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