GOP Challenger Claims Hochul Plans Tax Hikes with NYC Mayor
Bruce Blakeman's closing campaign ad alleges Governor Kathy Hochul intends to raise taxes significantly after the election to fund a 'socialist agenda.'
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has accused incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul of planning to increase taxes substantially if re-elected, asserting that these hikes would support what he described as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “socialist agenda.” The claim was made in Blakeman’s campaign’s latest 30-second digital advertisement.
The advertisement's narrator states that Hochul has made New York unaffordable through taxes on paychecks and fare hikes, and warns that she plans “massive new tax hikes” in conjunction with Mamdani for their “socialist agenda.” According to the ad, these proposed increases would affect income taxes, property taxes, and taxes on farms and small businesses, and would even entail taking half of inheritances, while also allocating funds to undocumented immigrants.
Blakeman, who currently serves as the Nassau County executive, has pledged to eliminate income taxes for most New Yorkers if elected. His proposal includes removing taxes on the first $50,000 of income for single filers and the first $100,000 for married couples. He suggests that economic growth and reduced spending on undocumented immigrants would finance this $34 billion tax-cutting plan.
During their only debate on October 14, Hochul stated that she would not raise state income taxes. The governor has previously supported payroll tax increases on corporations in the New York City region to fund public transit and endorsed the congestion pricing toll for entry into Midtown Manhattan. Earlier this year, she also approved a new tax on luxury second homes in New York City to support Mayor Mamdani’s budget.
Hochul’s campaign has countered Blakeman's claims, accusing him of expecting voters to believe he would cut property taxes despite raising them twice. A Hochul campaign spokesperson stated that Blakeman, whom they labeled a "MAGA all the way" candidate, is defending "Trump’s record-high gas prices" and advocating for data centers to increase energy bills. The spokesperson asserted that Governor Hochul has invested $4 billion in public safety and reduced middle-class taxes to historically low rates.