A newly created political action committee, "Defend Empire State" PAC, has pledged to invest millions of dollars in the New York gubernatorial race to support Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman and oppose incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul. The PAC, founded by Jason Meister, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, intends to focus on Hochul's connections to what Meister describes as the "radical Marxist, Jihadi wing of the Democratic Party."
Meister, who also led a PAC called "Defend NYC" during the city's mayoral race, stated that "Defend Empire State" will initiate an aggressive campaign to remove Hochul from office. He characterized Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive, as a "common sense, right-of-center" candidate. "Blakeman will be a check on Mamdani. Hochul isn't," Meister said in reference to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was incorrectly referred to as Zohran Mamdani in the source notes.
According to campaign records, Meister has attracted significant donations, with hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and Airbnb co-founder Joseph Gebbia each contributing $1 million to his previous PAC. As an independent expenditure Super PAC, "Defend Empire State" can raise unlimited funds.
Meister criticized Hochul, referring to her as an "accidental governor" for assuming the position after Andrew Cuomo's resignation in 2021. He expressed his intention to "expose her record and her relationship with" progressive Democrats, stating the race has national implications in a fight against "radical Marxist contagion."
Governor Hochul and the state Democratic Party possess a substantial financial advantage, with an estimated $40 million to spend in the final stretch of the campaign, significantly more than Blakeman and the New York Republican Party. Another pro-Blakeman Super PAC, "Strong and Safe New York," funded by Knicks owner James Dolan, is already running a million-dollar advertising campaign targeting Hochul.
In response, the Hochul campaign has launched its own multi-million dollar ad offensive, linking Blakeman to former President Trump and labeling him "100% MAGA." Recent polling from Siena University indicates Trump has a 60% job disapproval rate in New York.
Hochul, 67, is seeking her second full term after defeating Republican Lee Zeldin by six percentage points in 2022. Blakeman, 70, is the Nassau County executive.
