New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on healthcare?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Healthcare
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 cutting Medicaid spending, which he compares to Texas's and Florida's combined, to lower property taxes; said he would "cut Medicaid in half"; says he targets "fraud, waste, and abuse."
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposalJune 29, 2026
In a June 29, 2026 Fox Business interview he outlined a plan to cut property taxes by 25% by reforming Medicaid, saying New York's Medicaid spending equals that of Texas and Florida combined and is an unfunded mandate on counties. City & State reported that he told Fox Business that week he would "cut Medicaid in half" to bring it back to a "reasonable number." 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman proposes Medicaid reform to slash NY property taxes (opens in a new tab)Fox Business Network (Kudlow), via FOX One · June 29, 2026 · Transcript or videoCongressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · July 1, 2026 · News
- Public statementFeb. 2026
In a February 2026 radio interview he said the state's Medicaid bill is greater than Florida's and Texas's combined and that he would go in "with a cost-cutting crew" to make the program "more efficient and more in line with what other states are spending." SourceBlakeman, Hochul Spar over Medicaid (opens in a new tab)Long Island Life & Politics · Feb. 28, 2026 · News
- Public statementJuly 1, 2026
Says he would protect patients and taxpayers by eliminating "fraud, waste, and abuse" in Medicaid and that fixing the system would "safeguard health coverage for the most vulnerable." 2 sourcesCongressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · July 1, 2026 · NewsBlakeman, Hochul Spar over Medicaid (opens in a new tab)Long Island Life & Politics · Feb. 28, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalJune 29, 2026
In a June 29, 2026 Fox Business interview he outlined a plan to cut property taxes by 25% by reforming Medicaid, saying New York's Medicaid spending equals that of Texas and Florida combined and is an unfunded mandate on counties. City & State reported that he told Fox Business that week he would "cut Medicaid in half" to bring it back to a "reasonable number." 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman proposes Medicaid reform to slash NY property taxes (opens in a new tab)Fox Business Network (Kudlow), via FOX One · June 29, 2026 · Transcript or videoCongressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · July 1, 2026 · News
- Public statementFeb. 2026
In a February 2026 radio interview he said the state's Medicaid bill is greater than Florida's and Texas's combined and that he would go in "with a cost-cutting crew" to make the program "more efficient and more in line with what other states are spending." SourceBlakeman, Hochul Spar over Medicaid (opens in a new tab)Long Island Life & Politics · Feb. 28, 2026 · News
- Public statementJuly 1, 2026
Says he would protect patients and taxpayers by eliminating "fraud, waste, and abuse" in Medicaid and that fixing the system would "safeguard health coverage for the most vulnerable." 2 sourcesCongressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · July 1, 2026 · NewsBlakeman, Hochul Spar over Medicaid (opens in a new tab)Long Island Life & Politics · Feb. 28, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
After 2025 federal cuts, her administration announced moving 1.3 million Essential Plan enrollees to an older program model and set aside over $2 billion as a contingency.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Past actionSept. 2025
In September 2025 her administration said that, because of federal cuts in the 2025 federal budget law, it would move about 1.3 million low-income New Yorkers who do not qualify for Medicaid from the Essential Plan to the earlier Basic Health Plan model by July 1, 2026. The Healthcare Association of New York State said 450,000 people would still lose eligibility. SourceHealth plan changes foreshadows tough NY budget in 2026 (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · Sept. 11, 2025 · News
- Public statementApril 4, 2026
Her 2026 executive budget set aside more than $2 billion as a contingency in case the state did not receive a federal waiver to preserve Essential Plan coverage. On April 4, 2026, she said that of about 450,000 people receiving required coverage notices, about 300,000 would still be covered through employers or by buying new coverage. SourceFederal Medicaid cuts add to health care budget challenges (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · April 9, 2026 · News
- Past actionSept. 2025
In September 2025 her administration said that, because of federal cuts in the 2025 federal budget law, it would move about 1.3 million low-income New Yorkers who do not qualify for Medicaid from the Essential Plan to the earlier Basic Health Plan model by July 1, 2026. The Healthcare Association of New York State said 450,000 people would still lose eligibility. SourceHealth plan changes foreshadows tough NY budget in 2026 (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · Sept. 11, 2025 · News
- Public statementApril 4, 2026
Her 2026 executive budget set aside more than $2 billion as a contingency in case the state did not receive a federal waiver to preserve Essential Plan coverage. On April 4, 2026, she said that of about 450,000 people receiving required coverage notices, about 300,000 would still be covered through employers or by buying new coverage. SourceFederal Medicaid cuts add to health care budget challenges (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · April 9, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on healthcare
Selected votes
Bruce Blakeman
No selected votes for this candidate
Kathy Hochul
Repeal of Obamacare Act (H.R. 6079, 112th Congress)
HealthcareWould have repealed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, restoring the provisions of law they amended.
Passed the House 244–185 on July 11, 2012; placed on the Senate calendar July 16, 2012, and did not become law.
2 sourcesRoll Call 460: H.R. 6079, Repeal of Obamacare Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · July 11, 2012 · Legislative recordH.R.6079 - Repeal of Obamacare Act (112th Congress) (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · Legislative recordVoted noU.S. House · July 11, 2012
On Passage
House roll call 460, 2012 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 460: H.R. 6079, Repeal of Obamacare Act, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · July 11, 2012 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Bruce Blakeman
Medicaid spending
I’m running for Governor to protect patients and taxpayers by eliminating the fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid that costs billions of dollars every year and drives up the cost of living in New York
Bruce Blakeman · Statement to City & State responding to criticism of his Medicaid proposals · July 1, 2026
2 sourcesCongressional Democrats blast Trump, Blakeman over newly enacted Essential Plan cuts (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · July 1, 2026 · NewsBlakeman, Hochul Spar over Medicaid (opens in a new tab)Long Island Life & Politics · Feb. 28, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
No statement on this issue included
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