A prominent Democratic benefactor is breaking ranks to back Republican Bruce Blakeman in his bid to unseat New Yorks Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, signaling fresh turbulence in a race that is already tightening.
Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, widow of the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, has decided to cross party lines and support Blakeman, a move that has stunned political insiders. According to Western Journal, the shift was first highlighted by the New York Post, which reported that the high-profile donors decision is reverberating through elite Democratic circles.
Its the talk of the Hamptons, one surprised Democrat remarked, underscoring how unexpected the endorsement is among the partys wealthy coastal set. Its a good get for Bruce.
Lautenberg, a 79-year-old philanthropist with a long history of backing Democrats, had previously donated $1,000 to Hochuls re-election campaign in July 2025. Her decision to now assist Hochuls Republican challenger underscores growing unease with the direction of Democratic leadership in deep-blue New York.
Lautenberg confirmed she will host a fundraiser to bolster Blakemans campaign, putting her considerable social and financial clout behind the Republican. Bruce is a longtime friend and neighbor. Hes a great guy, she said, signaling that personal trust and character are outweighing partisan loyalty.
Blakeman welcomed the endorsement as a significant boost in a state where Republicans often struggle to compete at the statewide level. I am honored to have the support of Bonnie Lautenberg in my campaign for governor, he said, framing the support as evidence that Hochuls leadership is alienating even core Democratic donors.
The endorsement comes as new polling shows Hochuls advantage eroding as the campaign enters its final stretch. A Siena College survey of likely voters now places Hochul at 49 percent and Blakeman at 39 percent, a notable tightening from June, when she led 52 percent to 32 percent.
The poll of 811 respondents carries a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points, suggesting the race could narrow further as undecided and independent voters make up their minds. With less than three months till Election Day, Hochul holds a 10-point lead over Blakeman, 49-39%, not crossing the magic 50% mark. In June, among registered voters, Hochuls lead was twice as large, 52-32%, Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.
Greenberg noted that Hochul was in a stronger position at a similar point in the last gubernatorial cycle, yet still saw her margin shrink by Election Day. At this point four years ago, August 2022, when Hochul was just finishing her first year as governor, she led her opponent, former Republican Congressman (and current EPA Administrator) Lee Zeldin by 14 points, 53-39 percent, before going on to ultimately win the election by six points, 53-47 percent, he said.
The survey also underscores Hochuls vulnerability with voters who have grown weary of progressive governance and persistent affordability and safety concerns. Forty-nine percent of respondents rated Hochul unfavorably, compared with 46 percent who viewed her favorably, a troubling sign for an incumbent in a heavily Democratic state.
Blakeman remains less well-known statewide, but his numbers suggest room to grow as voters tune in. Thirty-three percent of respondents viewed him favorably and 26 percent unfavorably, while 40 percent said they did not know enough to form an opinion.
Not surprisingly, both candidates are holding on to their partisan bases, as Hochul leads among Democrats 80-8 percent and Blakeman leads among Republicans 84-9 percent. Likely independent voters favor Blakeman by a narrow five-point margin, 45-40 percent, Greenberg said. Hochul holds a commanding 64-19 percent lead in New York City, but trails Blakeman in the downstate suburbs by eight points, 49-41 percent. They are running virtually even in upstate, as well as among men and with white voters; Hochul has large leads with women, Latinos and Black voters.
Issue-based perceptions also show a governor struggling to justify another term amid mounting dissatisfaction over cost of living, crime, and energy policy. While Hochul has a 10-point lead, likely voters think shell do a better job than Blakeman on increasing affordable housing by 16 points. Thats the good news for Hochul. The bad news is that voters think shes better than Blakeman on four other issues affordability, energy, safety, and immigrants by between only one and seven points, Greenberg said.
Among independents, the numbers tilt toward the Republican challenger, reflecting a broader national pattern of swing voters souring on Democratic incumbents. While independents give Hochul negative ratings on all four traits, they overwhelmingly say Blakeman is tough and also say he gets things done. Independents are divided on whether Blakeman is honest or in touch; they score him better on both than they do Hochul, Greenberg said, suggesting that if Blakeman can introduce himself to the large bloc of undecided voters, Hochuls once-comfortable lead could prove far less secure than Democrats expected.
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