New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on the economy and taxes?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Economy & Taxes
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Bruce Blakeman
Proposes no state income tax for joint filers earning up to $100,000 or single filers up to $50,000, funded, he says, by restructuring spending; kept Nassau's budgeted property tax flat.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposalSept. 29, 2026
Proposes what he calls the largest income tax cut in state history: joint filers earning up to $100,000 and single filers earning up to $50,000 would pay no state income tax, which he says would save such a couple $4,000 a year. He says he would pay for it by restructuring state spending, including money earmarked for assisting immigrants and refugees. SourceHochul, Blakeman make tax relief pitches as election nears (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Sept. 29, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyDec. 2025
Under his administration, Nassau's budgeted county property tax has stayed at $755 million every year from 2022 through his 2026 budget, according to the county's budget summary. He says he also eliminated $150 million in tax increases planned by the prior administration. 3 sources2026 NIFA Approved Budget: Summary of Fiscal 2026 (opens in a new tab)Nassau County Office of Management and Budget · Dec. 2025 · GovernmentNassau Exec Bruce Blakeman submits $4.2B county budget — featuring no tax hike and more cops (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via AOL · Sept. 15, 2025 · NewsCounty Executive (opens in a new tab)Nassau County, New York · Government
- Public statementSept. 29, 2026
Has acknowledged voting for two property tax increases as a county legislator in the late 1990s and has called those votes a mistake. 2 sourcesHochul, Blakeman make tax relief pitches as election nears (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsBlakeman to oppose Curran for Nassau County executive (opens in a new tab)Herald Community Newspapers · March 15, 2021 · News
- Campaign proposalSept. 29, 2026
Proposes what he calls the largest income tax cut in state history: joint filers earning up to $100,000 and single filers earning up to $50,000 would pay no state income tax, which he says would save such a couple $4,000 a year. He says he would pay for it by restructuring state spending, including money earmarked for assisting immigrants and refugees. SourceHochul, Blakeman make tax relief pitches as election nears (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Sept. 29, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyDec. 2025
Under his administration, Nassau's budgeted county property tax has stayed at $755 million every year from 2022 through his 2026 budget, according to the county's budget summary. He says he also eliminated $150 million in tax increases planned by the prior administration. 3 sources2026 NIFA Approved Budget: Summary of Fiscal 2026 (opens in a new tab)Nassau County Office of Management and Budget · Dec. 2025 · GovernmentNassau Exec Bruce Blakeman submits $4.2B county budget — featuring no tax hike and more cops (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via AOL · Sept. 15, 2025 · NewsCounty Executive (opens in a new tab)Nassau County, New York · Government
- Public statementSept. 29, 2026
Has acknowledged voting for two property tax increases as a county legislator in the late 1990s and has called those votes a mistake. 2 sourcesHochul, Blakeman make tax relief pitches as election nears (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsBlakeman to oppose Curran for Nassau County executive (opens in a new tab)Herald Community Newspapers · March 15, 2021 · News
Kathy Hochul
Signed 2025 middle-class tax cuts, a larger child tax credit and inflation refunds; added a 2026 surcharge on luxury NYC second homes but opposes broader tax increases on the wealthy.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
Signed her fiscal 2026 budget in May 2025 with a middle-class income tax rate cut that her office says delivers nearly $1 billion a year to 8.3 million filers with incomes up to $323,000 for joint filers; an expanded child tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under 4 and up to $500 for older children; and one-time inflation refund checks of up to $400. 2 sourcesGovernor Hochul Signs New Legislation To Cut Taxes For Middle-Class New Yorkers As Part Of FY 2026 State Budget (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 9, 2025 · NewsNYS budget deal includes "bell-to-bell" school cellphone ban. Here's how it would work. (opens in a new tab)CBS News New York · April 29, 2025 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget, signed May 28, 2026, added a surcharge on New York City second homes worth $5 million or more, which she estimated would raise at least $500 million a year for the city, and eliminated state income tax on up to $25,000 of tipped income for tax year 2026. When the budget agreement was announced on May 7, 2026, she said she opposes broader tax increases on the wealthy because they risk encouraging wealthy residents and businesses to leave for lower-tax states. 3 sourcesHochul signs $268.5 billion budget for New York State (opens in a new tab)WRGB CBS 6 Albany, via CNY Central · May 28, 2026 · NewsNew York to tax luxury second homes in NYC but stops short of hiking income taxes on the wealthy (opens in a new tab)Associated Press, via WTOP News · May 7, 2026 · NewsGovernor Hochul Signs Budget That Makes New York More Affordable, Keeps New Yorkers Safe And Expands Opportunity For All (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 28, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she cited what she called the largest middle-class rate cut in 70 years and more than $10 billion in energy and inflation rebates, and said grocery and gas prices would start to come down if President Trump ended his tariffs and the war with Iran. 2 sourcesHochul, Blakeman face off in New York gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)WWNY-TV, via WCAX · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsHochul, Blakeman clash in debate on Trump, immigration, Cornell investigation, and more (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
Signed her fiscal 2026 budget in May 2025 with a middle-class income tax rate cut that her office says delivers nearly $1 billion a year to 8.3 million filers with incomes up to $323,000 for joint filers; an expanded child tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under 4 and up to $500 for older children; and one-time inflation refund checks of up to $400. 2 sourcesGovernor Hochul Signs New Legislation To Cut Taxes For Middle-Class New Yorkers As Part Of FY 2026 State Budget (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 9, 2025 · NewsNYS budget deal includes "bell-to-bell" school cellphone ban. Here's how it would work. (opens in a new tab)CBS News New York · April 29, 2025 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget, signed May 28, 2026, added a surcharge on New York City second homes worth $5 million or more, which she estimated would raise at least $500 million a year for the city, and eliminated state income tax on up to $25,000 of tipped income for tax year 2026. When the budget agreement was announced on May 7, 2026, she said she opposes broader tax increases on the wealthy because they risk encouraging wealthy residents and businesses to leave for lower-tax states. 3 sourcesHochul signs $268.5 billion budget for New York State (opens in a new tab)WRGB CBS 6 Albany, via CNY Central · May 28, 2026 · NewsNew York to tax luxury second homes in NYC but stops short of hiking income taxes on the wealthy (opens in a new tab)Associated Press, via WTOP News · May 7, 2026 · NewsGovernor Hochul Signs Budget That Makes New York More Affordable, Keeps New Yorkers Safe And Expands Opportunity For All (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 28, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she cited what she called the largest middle-class rate cut in 70 years and more than $10 billion in energy and inflation rebates, and said grocery and gas prices would start to come down if President Trump ended his tariffs and the war with Iran. 2 sourcesHochul, Blakeman face off in New York gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)WWNY-TV, via WCAX · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsHochul, Blakeman clash in debate on Trump, immigration, Cornell investigation, and more (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on the economy and taxes
Selected votes
Bruce Blakeman
No selected votes for this candidate
Kathy Hochul
Budget Control Act of 2011 (S. 365, 112th Congress)
EconomySet caps on discretionary spending for fiscal years 2012 through 2021, allowed the public debt limit to be raised in stages subject to congressional disapproval, and created a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to reduce deficits by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years, with automatic spending reductions if a committee bill achieving more than $1.2 trillion was not enacted by Jan. 15, 2012.
Passed the House 269–161 on Aug. 1, 2011; signed into law Aug. 2, 2011 (Public Law 112-25).
2 sourcesRoll Call 690: S. 365, Budget Control Act of 2011, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Aug. 1, 2011 · Legislative recordS.365 - Budget Control Act of 2011 (112th Congress) (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · Legislative recordVoted yesU.S. House · Aug. 1, 2011
On Passage
House roll call 690, 2011 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 690: S. 365, Budget Control Act of 2011, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Aug. 1, 2011 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Bruce Blakeman
Taxes and utility bills
Under Governor Hochul, we are the highest taxed state in America. Our utility bills are 70% higher than the national average, and because of policies like cashless bail, people feel unsafe in their own communities. As governor, I will cut taxes. I will cut your utility bills in half
Bruce Blakeman · Debate with Kathy Hochul, hosted by Spectrum News NY1 in New York City · Oct. 13, 2026
3 sourcesHochul, Blakeman spar off in gubernatorial debate (full debate video) (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 13, 2026 · Transcript or videoHochul, Blakeman face off in New York gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)WWNY-TV, via WCAX · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsThe part of the spicy Hochul-Blakeman debate you didn't see (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
Tax cuts and rebates
We’ve delivered the largest middle class rate cut in 70 years. That’s why we’ve delivered over $10 billion in energy rebates and inflation rebates and rebates to help people pay their bills
Kathy Hochul · Debate with Bruce Blakeman, hosted by Spectrum News NY1 in New York City · Oct. 13, 2026
3 sourcesHochul, Blakeman spar off in gubernatorial debate (full debate video) (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 13, 2026 · Transcript or videoHochul, Blakeman face off in New York gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)WWNY-TV, via WCAX · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsSpectrum News to host 3 debates for statewide offices (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · Sept. 22, 2026 · News
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