Millions Are Suddenly Chasing A Blue-State Upset

A brand-new political group just promised to spend millions of dollars to knock Kathy Hochul out of the governor’s mansion and stop what it calls the “Marxist” wing of New York’s Democratic Party.

Quick Take

Defend Empire State, a new independent expenditure PAC, says it will raise millions to back Republican Bruce Blakeman against Governor Hochul.
PAC spokesman Jason Meister called for ousting Hochul and the “Marxist, Communist faction” he says she enables inside the party.
The group joins other pro-Blakeman outside spenders, including a PAC tied to Knicks owner James Dolan already running anti-Hochul ads.
As an independent expenditure committee, Defend Empire State can raise unlimited money as long as it doesn’t coordinate with Blakeman’s campaign.
Hochul still leads in recent polling, but Republicans see rising outside money as a sign the race is tightening.

New PAC Enters the Race Swinging

Defend Empire State launched with a blunt mission: defeat Hochul and elect Blakeman, the Nassau County executive challenging her this fall. Jason Meister, speaking for the group, said it plans “the most vigorous campaign to oust Kathy Hochul and the Marxist, Communist faction she enables within the Democratic Party.” That kind of language signals Republicans see an opening to paint Hochul as too far left for New York voters.

The PAC is structured as an independent expenditure committee. That legal status matters. It means Defend Empire State can accept unlimited donations from wealthy backers, unlike Blakeman’s own campaign account, which faces strict New York contribution limits. The tradeoff is that the PAC cannot legally coordinate strategy or messaging directly with the Blakeman campaign itself.

Blakeman Already Has Deep-Pocketed Allies

Defend Empire State is not the first outside group jumping in for Blakeman. A pro-Blakeman super PAC called “Strong and Safe New York,” backed by Knicks owner James Dolan, has already spent more than $1 million on television ads hitting Hochul. Dolan, once a major Hochul donor, has now poured $1.4 million into pro-Blakeman committees and steered millions more into related super PACs this year.

Another pro-Blakeman group, “Make It Cheaper,” was formed earlier this year specifically to accept unlimited donations and compete with Hochul’s fundraising machine. Blakeman’s own campaign has also reported strong fundraising, with filings showing roughly $2 million brought in during one recent six-month stretch, far outpacing Democratic primary rival Seth Koslow’s total over the same period.

Why Outside Money Keeps Flooding This Race

Independent expenditure groups like Defend Empire State exist because of well-established campaign finance rules. These committees can raise unlimited cash from individuals and corporations as long as they act without coordinating with a candidate. Research on campaign finance shows independent expenditures tend to draw more public suspicion about influence than direct contributions to a candidate, which is exactly why voters should watch who funds them closely.

New York’s governor race has become a magnet for this kind of spending precisely because Hochul is viewed as vulnerable after years of pushing costly, left-leaning policies that have driven up living costs for working families. Conservatives argue that outside groups calling out the Democratic Party’s leftward drift are simply giving voice to frustrations many New Yorkers already feel about crime, affordability, and one-party rule in Albany.

Blakeman Still Faces a Tough Climb

Despite the fundraising momentum, Hochul held a double-digit lead in the most recent Siena poll. A pro-Blakeman super PAC, however, released its own internal poll showing a far tighter race than public surveys suggest, a claim Republicans point to as evidence Hochul’s support may be softer than headlines indicate. President Trump has also signaled interest in helping New York Republicans with tough-on-crime messaging ahead of the election.

🚨 JUST IN: NEW SUPER PAC VOWS TO POUR MILLIONS INTO NEW YORK GOVERNOR’S RACE

A newly formed Republican super PAC, Defend Empire State, says it plans to raise millions of dollars to help Bruce Blakeman take on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The group says it will aggressively… pic.twitter.com/s8LY5yV0ai

— Allen H. Blackwell (@MrAlenBlackwell) August 25, 2026

Blakeman has faced scrutiny over inflated fundraising claims earlier in the campaign, after a campaign official initially touted nearly $11 million raised before an amended filing showed lower actual numbers. Even so, Republicans argue the flood of independent money proves donors believe Hochul can be beaten this November, and Defend Empire State’s aggressive launch adds fresh fuel to that fight.