New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on housing?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Housing
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
Said in 2023, responding to Gov. Hochul's housing plan, that Albany should not override local zoning on Long Island; favored "smart growth," including mixed-use housing near transit hubs.
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- Public statementJan. 12, 2023
Responding to Gov. Hochul's 2023 proposal to require housing growth and let the state override local zoning, he said it was "not a good idea to do planning for Long Island from Albany" and that local residents should have a big say in what is built around them; he said he was "not against development" but favored "smart growth," including mixed-use housing next to transit hubs. SourceNassau County Exec on Gov. Hochul's Call for More Housing for Long Island (opens in a new tab)WNYC, The Brian Lehrer Show · Jan. 12, 2023 · Transcript or video
- Public statementFeb. 11, 2023
Said in February 2023 that there would be "a suburban uprising, the likes of which you've never seen before" if the state imposed land-use regulations on communities that have had local control for over a century. SourceHochul faces an ‘uprising’ over her plan to build new housing in NYC suburbs (opens in a new tab)Politico, via Yahoo News · Feb. 11, 2023 · News
- Public statementJan. 12, 2023
Responding to Gov. Hochul's 2023 proposal to require housing growth and let the state override local zoning, he said it was "not a good idea to do planning for Long Island from Albany" and that local residents should have a big say in what is built around them; he said he was "not against development" but favored "smart growth," including mixed-use housing next to transit hubs. SourceNassau County Exec on Gov. Hochul's Call for More Housing for Long Island (opens in a new tab)WNYC, The Brian Lehrer Show · Jan. 12, 2023 · Transcript or video
- Public statementFeb. 11, 2023
Said in February 2023 that there would be "a suburban uprising, the likes of which you've never seen before" if the state imposed land-use regulations on communities that have had local control for over a century. SourceHochul faces an ‘uprising’ over her plan to build new housing in NYC suburbs (opens in a new tab)Politico, via Yahoo News · Feb. 11, 2023 · News
Kathy Hochul
Signed a 2024 budget with a new NYC housing tax incentive and "good cause" eviction protections, and 2026 measures exempting qualifying housing from environmental review and raising rent-freeze income limits.
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- Enacted policyApril 2024
Signed the fiscal 2025 budget, passed by the Legislature in April 2024, which created the 485-x property tax incentive for New York City housing that includes affordable units, succeeding the 421-a program that expired in 2022; lifted New York City's cap on residential density; enacted a version of "good cause" eviction protections that lets New York City tenants challenge rent increases above 10%, or 5% plus inflation, with exemptions including buildings built in 2009 or later and landlords who own 10 or fewer units, and lets other localities opt in; and provided $500 million in capital funding for up to 15,000 homes on state-owned sites. 2 sourcesNew York lawmakers finally pass housing package (opens in a new tab)6sqft · April 22, 2024 · NewsSummary of housing provisions from historic NY Budget (opens in a new tab)Nixon Peabody LLP · April 22, 2024 · Reference
- Enacted policyMay 27, 2026
Signed changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), part of her fiscal 2027 budget, that exempt qualifying housing on previously disturbed land with existing water and sewer service from SEQRA review, up to caps that vary by location (for example, 300 units in urbanized areas outside New York City and 100 units in non-urbanized areas). The changes also exempt some infrastructure projects, such as clean water systems, parks and public schools. SourceHochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development (opens in a new tab)6sqft · May 27, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget includes more than $850 million in capital funding for housing, stiffer criminal penalties for landlords who engage in systemic harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings or are repeat serious offenders, and an increase in the income limit for the rent freeze program for seniors and people with disabilities from $50,000 to $75,000. 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 policyApril 2024
Signed the fiscal 2025 budget, passed by the Legislature in April 2024, which created the 485-x property tax incentive for New York City housing that includes affordable units, succeeding the 421-a program that expired in 2022; lifted New York City's cap on residential density; enacted a version of "good cause" eviction protections that lets New York City tenants challenge rent increases above 10%, or 5% plus inflation, with exemptions including buildings built in 2009 or later and landlords who own 10 or fewer units, and lets other localities opt in; and provided $500 million in capital funding for up to 15,000 homes on state-owned sites. 2 sourcesNew York lawmakers finally pass housing package (opens in a new tab)6sqft · April 22, 2024 · NewsSummary of housing provisions from historic NY Budget (opens in a new tab)Nixon Peabody LLP · April 22, 2024 · Reference
- Enacted policyMay 27, 2026
Signed changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), part of her fiscal 2027 budget, that exempt qualifying housing on previously disturbed land with existing water and sewer service from SEQRA review, up to caps that vary by location (for example, 300 units in urbanized areas outside New York City and 100 units in non-urbanized areas). The changes also exempt some infrastructure projects, such as clean water systems, parks and public schools. SourceHochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development (opens in a new tab)6sqft · May 27, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget includes more than $850 million in capital funding for housing, stiffer criminal penalties for landlords who engage in systemic harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings or are repeat serious offenders, and an increase in the income limit for the rent freeze program for seniors and people with disabilities from $50,000 to $75,000. 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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