Bruce Blakeman Downplays Ex-Wife's Donation to Rival Kathy Hochul

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has addressed a campaign donation made by his ex-wife, Nancy Shevell-McCartney, to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Shevell-McCartney, who is married to music icon Sir Paul McCartney, contributed $18,000 to "Friends for Kathy Hochul" in May 2025, according to records. Blakeman stated that the donation occurred six months prior to him entering the race against Hochul.

"I don’t know anything about it and certainly she’s free to contribute to any campaign that she wants to contribute to," Blakeman told reporters. "My understanding is she made that contribution six months before I got into the campaign against Kathy Hochul. And that’s all I’ll say on the subject. I don’t know why. I didn’t ask her. I have no idea."

Records indicate that Shevell-McCartney has contributed to both Republican and Democratic campaigns in the past. In 2013, she donated $3,000 to Republican Joe Lhota’s mayoral campaign in New York City. Former Republican Governor George Pataki appointed Shevell-McCartney to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, where she served for a decade.

Blakeman, a Republican, acknowledged the unusual circumstances of his ex-wife's marriage to Paul McCartney. "It’s a little surrealistic that your ex-wife is married to a Beatle. I’m not going to lie," Blakeman said in a previous interview. He described his relationship with McCartney as "amicable," noting that McCartney is a "nice guy" and a "musical genius" whose music he admires.

Blakeman, who is now married to Nassau County Family Court Judge Segal Blakeman, is running for governor. He mentioned that while McCartney is a good stepfather to their son, Arlen, they do not discuss politics.

Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney married in 2011, several years after Shevell and Blakeman amicably divorced after 23 years of marriage. Blakeman’s favorite Beatles song is reportedly "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da."