Hochul Leads Blakeman Heading Into Election Day in Governor's Race

With early voting closed and Election Day underway, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul entered November 3 with a commanding polling advantage over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive. A Siena poll released days before the election showed Hochul ahead 54%-40% statewide and 67%-23% in New York City, while a Marist poll had her up 53%-42%. On the final campaign day, Hochul appeared on the Upper West Side alongside NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Queens, emphasising housing expansion, a nearly $4 billion public safety investment, and universal childcare with a $1,000 tax break for families with children under four. Blakeman spent his last day in Suffolk County alongside Representative Nick LaLota and County Executive Ed Romaine, promoting a plan to eliminate state income taxes on earnings up to $100,000 for joint filers, cut utility bills in half, and tighten immigration enforcement by ending sanctuary state policies. Approximately 3.43 million independent voters were seen as the key swing bloc in suburban areas where analysts said the race remained most competitive.