Governors race ends with tax promises and disputes over polling
Candidates Blakeman and Hochul clashed on fiscal policy and campaign spending in their final days on the road.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
New York voters received conflicting messages on tax policy from both gubernatorial candidates on Saturday. The exchanges occurred as the election entered its final days.
Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman addressed supporters in Middle Village. He proposed eliminating state income tax on the first $100,000 of income for joint filers. Blakeman also pledged to cut utility costs by 50 percent.
The challenger accused incumbent Kathy Hochul of dodging questions on future revenue increases. "That means she's going to raise income tax. She's going to raise property tax. She's going to institute a wealth tax, a death tax, tax, tax tax," Blakeman said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul campaigned in Jamaica alongside Attorney General Letitia James, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Adrienne Adams. The Democrats contrasted Blakeman with former President Donald Trump. They cited state efforts to offset federal funding cuts.
Hochul denied plans to raise taxes. "I can fund the programs that we want for healthcare and childcare and healthcare and continue the investments in infrastructure with the current budget that we have. I don't believe in raising taxes just for the sake of raising taxes," she said.
Polling data showed Hochul with a double-digit lead. Blakeman challenged that view by pointing to his campaign's recent ad spend. "Kathy Hochul wouldn't spend $7 million in the last seven days attacking me if it wasn't neck and neck. We're going to win this race because turnout is on our side," he said.
Source: ABC7 New York
