Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign ineligible for matching public funds, campaign finance board rules
The new certification requirements that require both offices to file together went into law this year after being approved by the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board this past December.
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The New York State Public Campaign Finance Board has ruled that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign is not eligible for publicly matched funds because the lieutenant governor candidate did not file the paperwork required by the set deadline.
The PCFB voted 4-3 on Tuesday and the new certification requirements that require both offices to file together went into law this year after being approved by the board this past December. The ruling also applies to several other tickets on the governor and lieutenant governor ballot.
The election law now requires both offices jointly submit their applications for eligibility to receive matching public funds. The board noted that in the case of Blakeman's campaign, no lieutenant governor candidate certification was received by the Feb. 23 deadline.
Brian M. Kolb, vice chair of the PCFB, said in part:
“Today’s vote is shameful. My Democratic colleagues are holding candidates responsible for a bipartisan error of the Board, all in service to clear the field for the sitting governor."
Brian Keegan, the Democratic co-director of PCFB said in part:
"Today’s vote wasn’t about politics - it was about maintaining consistency in how the rules are applied. If a campaign is seeking taxpayer-funded matching dollars, it’s the Boards job to ensure that the full application requirements are met."
Blakeman announced his running mate at a convention at the Garden City Hotel on Feb. 9, choosing Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood as his choice for lieutenant governor.
Blakeman’s campaign spokesperson Madison Spanodemos issued a statement on the ruling: “With the race tightening and her poll numbers sagging, it’s no surprise Kathy Hochul’s handpicked appointee would vote to take away funds from Bruce Blakeman’s campaign. While it reeks of corruption, no money in the world can hide Kathy Hochul’s record of driving up taxes, rent, utility bills, and insurance premiums.”
The Siena Research Institute released a poll on Tuesday showing that current Gov. Kathy Hochul is leading over Blakeman by a 13-point margin, which is 7 points less than the gap was in February.
The poll tabulated that 64% of registered voters say they have never heard of Blakeman or don’t know enough about him to have an opinion.
“While Hochul maintains very narrow leads upstate and in the downstate suburbs, her lead in New York City fell from 46 points, 63-17%, last month to 29 points, 54-25%, today,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said. “Is that movement or merely noise? Let’s see what happens next month after the budget and as the campaign unfolds.”
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki released the following statement on Blakeman being denied matching funds:
“The bipartisan Public Campaign Finance Board makes its own determinations, and the onus is on each campaign to ensure they meet its requirements. ‘100% MAGA’ Bruce Blakeman doesn’t need any help from us to run an incompetent, losing campaign – and by embracing Trump’s illegal tariffs and enabling ICE’s overreach, he’s ensuring New Yorkers will send him packing this November.”
