A Long Island lawmaker is blasting New York Democrats after Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman was denied millions in public campaign matching funds, calling the decision politically motivated and unfair.
“The one-party system, with the radical Democrats in control of the levers of power, has reared its ugly head once again,” noted Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “They are going to funnel millions of taxpayer dollars into Gov. Hochul’s reelection, while denying Bruce Blakeman the same access to the campaign finance system.”
The controversy stems from a March 31st, 2026 vote by New York State's Public Campaign Finance Board, which rejected Blakeman’s application for matching funds in a 4–3 party-line decision.
The board of majority Democrats cited a technical issue: Blakeman’s running mate failed to submit a required certification form under a newly implemented rule.
The decision could cost the Republican candidate more than $4 million in public funds as he trails Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in fundraising. Critics, including watchdog groups, say the rules were unclear and inconsistently applied in the program’s first gubernatorial cycle.
In a social media post, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt added to the outrage by posting: "CORRUPT AND CROOKED TO THE CORE 🍎 Albany Democrats are rotten for putting their finger on the scales to tip the Governor's race away from surging@NassauExecBruce Blakeman."
DeStefano later added: “They sold this as leveling the playing field so we can have open and fair elections, knowing all along they would do the exact opposite. This is what you can expect from a party that gave us cashless bail, outrageous taxes, and a sanctuary state that takes money from hard-working New Yorkers and feeds it to illegal immigrants to get their votes.”
Congressman Nick LaLota said the decision reflects a system “tilted to protect those in power rather than ensure fairness for all.”