HoodlineTier 3
Pro-Blakeman super PAC Strong and Safe New York launches ad alleging Hochul pay-to-play over $637M Covid test contract; reported buy is $750K a week through Nov. 3; Hochul campaign calls it a baseless attack
Per Hoodline (Oct. 7), the PAC ad targets 1M+ voters on streaming, social and video texting. The allegations are the PAC's; Hochul's office has said the 2021 purchases were needed to get rapid tests quickly and that she did not oversee procurement. Funder claims (James Dolan, Steve Wynn) in the piece are second-hand and not confirmed against a BOE filing, so outside_spending was not changed.
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
ABC News 4 / National News Desk (citing NY Post) · Oct 8, 2026Actress Debra Messing attends Manhattan fundraiser for Blakeman, tells him "I am so grateful you are running" and criticizes congestion pricing; reported by the New York Post Oct. 4WAMC / NY Public News Network · Oct 7, 2026Party-committee loophole: state Democrats moved $10M to Hochul and Nassau GOP $3.5M to Blakeman; Hochul holds ~$19M, Blakeman $177K plus ~$1M in matching fundsSpectrum News · Oct 6, 2026Hochul and Blakeman campaign separately in Erie County a month out; Hochul announces free community college expansion, Seneca gaming compact talks still unresolvedCity & State · Oct 3, 2026One month out, Hochul and the state Democratic Party hold more than $33M in cash; Blakeman figures for the same period not yet available
Source: Hoodline · Oct 9, 2026 · Credibility Tier 3 · Permalink https://reviewhochul.com/news/strong-and-safe-ad-covid-test-contract-2026-10-07
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