Hochul Wins Second Full Term as New York Governor; Bruce Blakeman Concedes

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul won a second full term on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive. The Associated Press called the race for Hochul right as polls closed at 9 p.m. ET, Gothamist reported, and Blakeman conceded later that night.

Status: AP called the race for Kathy Hochul (D). Blakeman conceded. Vote counts are unofficial until certified.

The results

Vote shares moved as counting went on, so here is what each outlet reported and when:

Hochul’s lead narrowed as more of the expected vote came in, but the race was not close. Final numbers will come from the New York State Board of Elections.

What Hochul and Blakeman said

“Thank you for once again putting your trust in me,” Hochul said in her victory speech, according to Gothamist. “Serving as your governor has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I will never, ever, ever take your faith in me for granted.”

Blakeman said he called the governor to concede. “I told her that she ran a great race,” he said, NY1 reported. “And now the race is over, the election is over, so we all have to unify and work together, and make for a better state of New York.”

How Hochul won

Gothamist reported that Hochul campaigned on pocketbook issues and spent about $30 million on ads promoting energy rebate checks, a pause on data center construction and expanded child care. She also tied Blakeman to President Donald Trump at nearly every turn, a strategy aimed at the roughly two-thirds of New York voters who view the president unfavorably in public polls. Blakeman, a longtime friend of Trump’s, appeared with him at several rallies and did little to distance himself.

Blakeman had argued that New Yorkers were unhappy under Hochul. “What I want to do is I want to make people happy again,” he said during the campaign, according to The River Reporter. His pitch focused on taxes, utility bills and public safety.

A first for New York

Hochul’s running mate, Adrienne Adams, becomes lieutenant governor. NY1 noted that this gives New York a female governor and a female lieutenant governor at the same time for the first time, and Adams becomes the first Black woman to serve as lieutenant governor.

Hochul, 68, became New York’s first female governor in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo resigned. In 2022 she won her first full term by about six points over Republican Lee Zeldin, a narrower margin than expected, Gothamist said. This year’s margin was much wider.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Bruce Blakeman vs. Kathy Hochul: What to Know as New York Votes for Governor (Nov 3)