Blakeman Criticizes Hochul on Education, Pledges STEM Focus

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman on Friday sharply criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul's leadership on public education, pointing to New York's low student test scores and pledging to emphasize STEM initiatives if elected. Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, stated during a campaign stop in The Bronx that Hochul has "no clue" how to improve educational outcomes and that the declining scores are "not acceptable."

Blakeman directly addressed Hochul's 2024 remark about "young black kids in the Bronx" not knowing what a computer is, asserting that students in the borough possess greater technological knowledge than the governor. "She doesn’t know what is going on our communities. She doesn’t even know what’s going on in our school system," Blakeman said. "The fact is we have to support our children’s education and not put them down. We have to elevate them."

He was joined by Bronx community leader and educator Sheikh Musa Drammeh, who highlighted New York's 17th-place national ranking in education according to U.S. News & World Report. This ranking, they noted, is particularly concerning given New York's position as the highest-spending state per pupil in the country, with an estimated $40,000 per pupil in 2025.

Citing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Blakeman and Drammeh pointed to New York's performance in reading and math. Fourth graders ranked 22nd in reading and 38th in math, while eighth graders were 24th in reading and 27th in math. Blakeman attributed these results to the curriculum, the Board of Regents, the Chancellor of Education, and Hochul, rather than the teachers.

If elected, Blakeman vowed to make science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) the core of New York's public school curriculum, stating, "That is the future of America. That is the future of New York State. That is the future of New York City. And it’s the future of our children and grandchildren."

Blakeman's campaign stop in The Bronx was also seen as a strategic move to engage voters in the borough, which has seen a significant political shift in recent years. While historically a Democratic stronghold, The Bronx showed a notable swing away from the Democratic party in the 2024 presidential election.

With less than three weeks until the November 3 election, Blakeman is actively campaigning to persuade voters against re-electing the incumbent governor. Hochul's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The gubernatorial election is a contest for Hochul's second full four-year term.