Democrats Vote to Remove Bruce Blakeman From NY Public Campaign Finance Program, Risking Up to $7M in Aid

ALBANY, New York — The New York Public Campaign Finance Board voted along party lines to remove Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman from the state's new public campaign financing program, a decision that could deny the Republican gubernatorial hopeful as much as $7 million in matching funds intended to bolster small-donor support.

The seven-member board — composed of four Democrats and three Republicans — voted to decertify Blakeman’s ticket after Democratic commissioners invoked a December rule requiring gubernatorial candidates and their running mates to submit a joint application to participate in the program. Although Blakeman received a certification letter, the board had not published the specific joint-certification form Democrats say is required. Because lieutenant governor running mate Todd Hood did not sign and file the joint form, Democrats said the entire ticket could not remain enrolled.

"Todd Hood has never filed anything to participate in the program," Democratic commissioner Henry Berger said. "And I believe he’s an essential part of the gubernatorial candidate … The lieutenant governor is not yet participating in the program, has made no effort to participate in the program."

Republican commissioners blasted the move as partisan and bureaucratic.

"This is an abomination of trying to do bureaucratic nonsense to try to eliminate candidates from an election," GOP commissioner Brian Kolb said, adding that the vote undercuts the board’s mission. Republican commissioner Tony Casale called the action a "purely a bureaucratic snafu," noting the board never published or properly notified campaigns about the new joint-application requirement.

Blakeman’s campaign suggested political motives for the vote. In a statement, the campaign said, "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."

The board also removed five other gubernatorial candidates from the program, including Libertarian and former GOP candidate Larry Sharpe, leaving only one enrolled candidate: Skiboky Stora, who earlier this month was convicted of assault and related hate-crime offenses. Stora is not considered a serious contender to make the ballot.

Governor Kathy Hochul chose not to participate in the voluntary public financing program.

The decision is expected to prompt immediate litigation. Blakeman, widely seen as the likely Republican nominee, has signaled he will sue to restore certification and access to public matching funds. Legal experts expect the dispute to be resolved in the courts.

Polling the same day showed the race narrowing: a Siena University survey found Blakeman trailing Gov. Hochul by 13 percentage points, down from a 26-point gap in January. The potential loss of up to $7 million in public funds could substantially affect Blakeman’s ability to compete statewide, particularly if the matter remains unresolved close to the primary or general election.

What’s Next

Blakeman’s campaign is preparing a legal challenge to the board’s action. The Public Campaign Finance Board faces scrutiny over both its rule-making and its communication with campaigns, and the courts will likely need to interpret whether the board followed proper procedure in decertifying the ticket.