Hochul Leads New York Gubernatorial Race with Record Cash Reserve

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that her campaign, together with the New York state Democratic Party, now holds $33 million in cash, a record amount for any gubernatorial contest at this stage. The surge includes $8.5 million raised during the summer months, according to campaign officials. Preston Elliott, the campaign manager, highlighted the unprecedented financial advantage as the race heads into its closing weeks.

Hochul’s donor base has swelled to 17,800 individuals, more than four times the number reported in the same filing period of 2022. Despite the financial edge, Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, has closed the gap in recent polls, with a Siena University survey showing Hochul at 50 percent and Blakeman at 41 percent. Blakeman has not yet disclosed his latest fundraising totals, and final filings are due to the state Board of Elections on Friday.