The state’s Public Campaign Finance Board voted along party lines Tuesday to deny Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman access to public matching funds, potentially costing him up to $7 million in campaign support. The board, which holds a 4-3 Democratic majority, cited a filing deficiency, noting that Blakeman did not list his running mate, Todd Hood, on his application.
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Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, secured the Republican nomination last month and is challenging incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul. The campaign argued the denial stemmed from a bureaucratic error rather than a substantive violation, with spokesperson Madison Spanodemos emphasizing that it was “no surprise Kathy Hochul’s handpicked appointee would vote to take away funds from Bruce Blakeman’s campaign.” Blakeman has retained legal counsel to explore challenging the ruling.
Democratic commissioners maintained that the joint filing requirement, adopted in December, was necessary for lieutenant governor candidates to participate in the public financing system. Board chair Barbara Lifton emphasized that “there are rules, there’s laws, there are regulations, and they have to be followed,” adding that the board could risk harming the program if it appeared to play favorites.
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Republican members of the board criticized the vote as procedural overreach. Vice-chair Brian Kolb characterized it as “‘gotcha’ politics that is frankly disgraceful” and emphasized that candidates were not notified of the new requirement. Commissioner Tony Casale added that the rule’s intention was to ensure coverage under enforcement actions, but described the outcome as a “bureaucratic snafu.”
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Good-government groups, including Reinvent Albany, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Citizens Union, also questioned the board’s approach, asserting that candidates should have been given an opportunity to correct incomplete filings. Observers noted the ruling could set a precedent for how the system enforces its regulations, particularly in high-profile elections.
The denial affects Blakeman’s campaign funds in a system designed to supplement small-donor contributions, while Hochul, who has reported $20.2 million in campaign cash, does not participate in the voluntary program. The decision also impacted five other gubernatorial candidates.
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