New York Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated that U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who had considered a gubernatorial run, would have presented a more formidable challenge in the general election than current GOP candidate Bruce Blakeman. Hochul's comments, made during an interview with Newsday's editorial board, suggested Stefanik's national profile and fundraising ability would have altered the race dynamics.
"Probably. I mean, Bruce is, you know, Bruce," Hochul stated when asked about Stefanik. She added that Stefanik's "ability to raise a lot of money" due to her national following "would have been a different race."
Despite this assessment, Hochul maintained that her polling indicated she would have defeated Stefanik. "Our polling shows us beating her as well," she said.
Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, responded sharply to Hochul's remarks, accusing her of attempting to deflect from her record. He likened the governor to the Disney villain Cruella de Vil, criticizing her administration's policies.
"Cruella de Vil is more likable than Kathy Hochul and her high taxes, high electric bills and soaring health care costs," Blakeman said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Stefanik was considered a leading contender for the Republican gubernatorial nomination before withdrawing from the race in December. At the time, former President Donald Trump publicly supported her decision, calling her a "tremendous talent."
Trump later endorsed Blakeman after Stefanik opted against entering the gubernatorial contest, solidifying Blakeman as the Republican nominee. Hochul is seeking her second full four-year term after becoming governor in 2021 following Andrew Cuomo's resignation. In 2022, she defeated Republican Lee Zeldin by approximately six percentage points.