Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a candidate for governor, joined attorney general hopeful Saritha Komatireddy and comptroller candidate Joseph Hernandez on a rapid-fire, eight-city tour across New York State, making a final appeal to voters just hours before the midterm election polls opened on Tuesday.
Their campaign effort, described as a "state-wide tour to make their final pitch," began on Sunday and continued Monday. Blakeman expressed confidence that the Republican ticket could still win, despite trailing their Democratic opponents in recent polls. He stated his belief that enough Democrats and independent voters would support him because "every single day, another Democrat comes up to me and says, ‘Bruce, I’ve never voted Republican in my life, but I’m voting for you this year because my party is nuts.'"
The tour's second day included a stop at the Embassy Diner in Bethpage, Long Island, where the candidates spoke with diners. Komatireddy reported hearing from many who "want a safer NY," sentiments she said she had heard throughout her campaign.
According to Sienna University polls, Blakeman trailed Governor Kathy Hochul 40% to 54%, Komatireddy was behind incumbent Letitia James at 39% to 54%, and Hernandez trailed incumbent Thomas DiNapoli at 32% to 59%. Blakeman, however, characterized his race as being within the margin of error and described the election as a "turn-out election."
Blakeman noted that on the tour's first day, he visited Oswego, Albany, and Rensselaer County. The tour was scheduled to continue to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Manhattan, and conclude back on Long Island on Monday.
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul was also engaged in last-minute campaigning, focusing on events in Harlem and on the Upper West Side of New York City.
Registered Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans in New York, with 6 million registered Democrats compared to 2.8 million Republicans, according to recent state Board of Elections data. An additional 3.3 million voters are registered with no party affiliation. The last Republican to win a statewide office in New York was former Governor George Pataki in 2002.