Hochul and Blakeman Hit the Trail as Early Voting Approaches

With early voting set to begin the following weekend and Election Day on November 3, Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman each held campaign events on Sunday October 18, 2026. Hochul appeared at Concourse Village in the Bronx, emphasising a cell phone ban in schools, expanded access to community college and subsidised child care, telling supporters: 'I knew what it was like to struggle, not having child care.' Blakeman campaigned on Long Island alongside former gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, centering his message on affordability and arguing that businesses and people were leaving New York because of high costs. On the economy, Hochul claimed New York is 'the fastest growing economy in America,' while Blakeman cited state Energy Department projections warning of rising utility bills. Mayor Zohran Mamdani had previously released a campaign ad supporting Hochul and attacking Blakeman on child care, Medicaid and immigration cooperation. Both candidates planned further campaign events before early voting opens the following weekend.