Bloomberg-Backed PAC Spends to Boost Hochul's Re-election
New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany launches seven-figure campaign in competitive districts.
A super Political Action Committee (PAC) funded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg is investing seven figures to support the re-election campaign of New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The group, New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany, received $1.8 million from Bloomberg earlier this year and is focusing its efforts on get-out-the-vote initiatives and media campaigns in competitive districts.
The targeted areas include Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, southern Brooklyn, and Staten Island. These suburban and ticket-splitting regions are considered key to deciding the gubernatorial race.
"Governor Hochul has consistently stood up for New York’s students and families, and now parents are standing up for her," said Crystal McQueen-Taylor, of New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany. "This is a true parent-powered movement. Dozens of parents across Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx are knocking on doors because they know what’s at stake for their children’s future. And in the suburbs and swing districts where this election will be won, we are making sure Democrats who want to keep New York moving forward show up and vote."
This push comes after Hochul announced that New York would opt into a federal "education freedom" tax credit scholarship program. The initiative, championed by former President Trump, could benefit over 2.7 million New York students. However, the state's participation faced opposition from teachers' unions.
A source close to the Bloomberg-backed PAC stated that the decision to support Hochul was made before the governor's announcement regarding the tax credit program.
In addition to supporting Hochul, the PAC is backing seven moderate Democratic candidates for the state Senate. These candidates are running in competitive swing seats across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital Region, as well as in two New York City districts—southern Brooklyn and Staten Island—where increased Democratic turnout could influence outcomes.
Bloomberg has previously supported pro-charter school groups, donating $1 million to Empire State PAC last month and $1.5 million to New Yorker for a Strong Future in May.
The Education Freedom Tax Credit allows individuals to receive a federal tax credit for donations to approved scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations can then provide scholarships for tuition costs at private schools or for educational expenses for public school students, such as tutoring or transportation. The participation of each state is determined by its governor.