New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on public safety?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Public Safety
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
Says cashless bail, Raise the Age and the HALT Act have increased crime and that he would use budget leverage to change them; ordered Nassau police to publish rearrest data.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposalSept. 1, 2026
Says the state's cashless bail law is a "revolving door" and that the Raise the Age law has led gangs to recruit teenagers to commit crimes; says that as governor he would withhold funding for Democratic lawmakers' priorities in budget talks until they agree to change criminal justice laws, and supports career training for inmates. In the Oct. 13 debate he also cited the HALT Act, which restricts solitary confinement. 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman takes aim at NY's justice system: 'A revolving door of criminality' (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Sept. 1, 2026 · NewsHochul keeps Trump center stage as Blakeman softens praise in lone governor debate over ICE, crime and affordability (opens in a new tab)amNewYork · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Past actionJan. 19, 2022
Signed Executive Order 4-2022 on Jan. 19, 2022, directing the Nassau County Police Department to disclose in daily reports the pending criminal cases and bail status of people it rearrests. SourceExecutive Order Number 4-2022 (Effects of Criminal Justice Reform) (opens in a new tab)Nassau County, NY · Jan. 19, 2022 · Government
- Public statementSept. 15, 2025
Says he has hired more than 600 law enforcement officers since taking office in 2022 and that major crimes in Nassau County fell by more than 13% in 2025. SourceNassau 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 · News
- Campaign proposalSept. 1, 2026
Says the state's cashless bail law is a "revolving door" and that the Raise the Age law has led gangs to recruit teenagers to commit crimes; says that as governor he would withhold funding for Democratic lawmakers' priorities in budget talks until they agree to change criminal justice laws, and supports career training for inmates. In the Oct. 13 debate he also cited the HALT Act, which restricts solitary confinement. 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman takes aim at NY's justice system: 'A revolving door of criminality' (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Sept. 1, 2026 · NewsHochul keeps Trump center stage as Blakeman softens praise in lone governor debate over ICE, crime and affordability (opens in a new tab)amNewYork · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Past actionJan. 19, 2022
Signed Executive Order 4-2022 on Jan. 19, 2022, directing the Nassau County Police Department to disclose in daily reports the pending criminal cases and bail status of people it rearrests. SourceExecutive Order Number 4-2022 (Effects of Criminal Justice Reform) (opens in a new tab)Nassau County, NY · Jan. 19, 2022 · Government
- Public statementSept. 15, 2025
Says he has hired more than 600 law enforcement officers since taking office in 2022 and that major crimes in Nassau County fell by more than 13% in 2025. SourceNassau 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 · News
Kathy Hochul
Signed budgets changing discovery laws and involuntary-commitment standards in 2025 and restricting 3D-printed guns in 2026; says her administration tackled rising gun crime and funded prosecutors to curb retail theft.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
The fiscal 2026 budget agreement she announced in April 2025, signed in May 2025, changed the state's discovery laws to reduce the number of cases dismissed on technicalities, lowered the standard for involuntary commitment of people with mental illness, made it a misdemeanor to hide one's identity with a mask while committing a felony, and funded police on every subway train overnight. 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 adds more than $900 million for public safety, including $77 million for police deployment in the New York City subway; sets standards for 3D printers sold in the state to include technology that blocks printing firearms; restricts blueprints for 3D-printed guns; and creates penalties for interfering with access to places of worship. 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
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she said gun crime was "skyrocketing" when she became governor and that her administration "tackled that," and that she gave millions of dollars to district attorneys to reduce retail theft. She also defended firing correction officers who refused to end the 2025 prison strike. 2 sourcesHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyMay 9, 2025
The fiscal 2026 budget agreement she announced in April 2025, signed in May 2025, changed the state's discovery laws to reduce the number of cases dismissed on technicalities, lowered the standard for involuntary commitment of people with mental illness, made it a misdemeanor to hide one's identity with a mask while committing a felony, and funded police on every subway train overnight. 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 adds more than $900 million for public safety, including $77 million for police deployment in the New York City subway; sets standards for 3D printers sold in the state to include technology that blocks printing firearms; restricts blueprints for 3D-printed guns; and creates penalties for interfering with access to places of worship. 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
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she said gun crime was "skyrocketing" when she became governor and that her administration "tackled that," and that she gave millions of dollars to district attorneys to reduce retail theft. She also defended firing correction officers who refused to end the 2025 prison strike. 2 sourcesHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on public safety
Selected votes
Bruce Blakeman
No selected votes for this candidate
Kathy Hochul
National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (H.R. 822, 112th Congress)
Public safetyWould have allowed a person with a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by one state, valid government-issued photo identification and no federal prohibition on possessing firearms to carry a concealed handgun in another state, subject to that state's restrictions.
Passed the House 272–154 on Nov. 16, 2011; referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee Nov. 17, 2011, and did not become law.
2 sourcesRoll Call 852: H.R. 822, National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Nov. 16, 2011 · Legislative recordH.R.822 - National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (112th Congress) (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · Legislative recordVoted yesU.S. House · Nov. 16, 2011
On Passage
House roll call 852, 2011 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 852: H.R. 822, National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Nov. 16, 2011 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Bruce Blakeman
No statement on this issue included
Kathy Hochul
Gun crime and retail theft
When I became governor, it was gun crime that was skyrocketing, we tackled that. Retail theft— I gave millions of dollars to our district attorneys to change the laws and give them what they need to be able to reduce those crimes
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 and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · 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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