Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman has been denied up to $7 million in public matching funds for his campaign against Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. The Public Campaign Finance Board voted 4-3 along party lines after Blakeman failed to properly file paperwork with his running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood.

Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, filed his initial application in December without listing a lieutenant governor candidate, then failed to update the paperwork when he selected Hood. The oversight occurred amid new election laws requiring governor and lieutenant governor candidates to run on a single ticket. Democrats defended the decision as necessary for compliance, while Republican commissioners called it partisan overreach.

Governor Hochul holds a significant financial advantage with a $20 million war chest and strong Democratic registration across New York. Blakeman's spokeswoman called the decision "corruption," while Hochul's campaign defended the board's ruling. This marks the first year gubernatorial candidates are eligible for the state's matching funds program, which offers a six-to-one match on donations up to $250.