New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on education?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Education
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 barring transgender girls from girls' school bathrooms and locker rooms statewide; says parents' rights would be "sacred"; supports keeping gifted programs and the specialized high school exam.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposalOct. 4, 2026
Proposes a statewide "Protect Our Daughters" policy for public schools, kindergarten through 12th grade, that would bar transgender girls from girls' bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight school-trip rooms; his campaign did not say how it would be enforced. SourceBlakeman vows to ban transgender students in girls' school bathrooms and lockers in NY (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via DNYUZ · Oct. 4, 2026 · News
- Public statementJuly 31, 2026
Said in July 2026 that COVID-era school masking under Gov. Hochul harmed students' learning, and that "when I'm Governor, nothing will be more sacred than parents' rights when it comes to their kids." SourceHochul Sacrificed an Entire Generation’s Education (opens in a new tab)Blakeman for New York · July 31, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementAug. 11, 2026
Says he supports keeping gifted and talented programs and the Specialized High School Admissions Test, saying gifted schools are for students who "can't be challenged in a regular school because they excel." SourceTaking a page from Zeldin, Blakeman makes his pitch to East Asian voters (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Aug. 11, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalOct. 4, 2026
Proposes a statewide "Protect Our Daughters" policy for public schools, kindergarten through 12th grade, that would bar transgender girls from girls' bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight school-trip rooms; his campaign did not say how it would be enforced. SourceBlakeman vows to ban transgender students in girls' school bathrooms and lockers in NY (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via DNYUZ · Oct. 4, 2026 · News
- Public statementJuly 31, 2026
Said in July 2026 that COVID-era school masking under Gov. Hochul harmed students' learning, and that "when I'm Governor, nothing will be more sacred than parents' rights when it comes to their kids." SourceHochul Sacrificed an Entire Generation’s Education (opens in a new tab)Blakeman for New York · July 31, 2026 · Campaign
- Public statementAug. 11, 2026
Says he supports keeping gifted and talented programs and the Specialized High School Admissions Test, saying gifted schools are for students who "can't be challenged in a regular school because they excel." SourceTaking a page from Zeldin, Blakeman makes his pitch to East Asian voters (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Aug. 11, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
Enacted a 2025 bell-to-bell school smartphone ban and free school meals for all students, and 2026 funding toward universal pre-K for 4-year-olds by 2028–29.
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- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
Her fiscal 2026 budget, agreed in April and signed in May 2025, required schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" restrictions on students' use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices during the school day starting in the 2025–26 school year, with exemptions for medical needs and translation, and provided $340 million for free breakfast and lunch for every student. 2 sourcesNYS 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 · NewsGovernor 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 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget raises child care and prekindergarten funding by $1.7 billion, to $4.5 billion, and funds pre-K seats for all 4-year-olds statewide by the 2028–29 school year. 2 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 · 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
- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
Her fiscal 2026 budget, agreed in April and signed in May 2025, required schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" restrictions on students' use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices during the school day starting in the 2025–26 school year, with exemptions for medical needs and translation, and provided $340 million for free breakfast and lunch for every student. 2 sourcesNYS 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 · NewsGovernor 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 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget raises child care and prekindergarten funding by $1.7 billion, to $4.5 billion, and funds pre-K seats for all 4-year-olds statewide by the 2028–29 school year. 2 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 · 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
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