Who is Kathy Hochul and what is Hochul running on in the 2026 New York Governor race?

Kathy Hochul is the Democratic candidate for New York governor, and the incumbent. Governor of New York since 2021; former lieutenant governor and U.S. Representative. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Kathy Hochul (D) seeking a second full term.
• Polling: Hochul 50, Blakeman 41 (Siena, Sept 11 to 17, 2026).

Why Hochul is ahead

• New York hasn’t elected a Republican governor in 24 years and Democrats have a 2-to-1 enrollment edge (Siena’s Steve Greenberg).
• Hochul leads by 9 in the latest Siena poll and is preferred on affordability, public safety and immigration.
• Trump’s endorsement of Blakeman is viewed negatively by 51%; Blakeman leads independents and upstate, and the race tightened from a 20-point June lead.
• Hochul is cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party.

What Hochul is running on

• Taxes. No new income tax hikes in her 2026 budget despite pressure from Mayor Mamdani.
• Child care. Funded a free child care pilot for 2-year-olds across NYC, toward universal child care.
• Trump/federal cuts. Attacks Trump’s ~$10.3B in federal cuts hitting Medicaid and coverage for 1M+ New Yorkers.
• Immigration. Opposes aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions.
• Campaign theme. Runs on affordability, safety and families.

In Hochul’s own words

“This is not an austerity budget, but it is a disciplined one.”

The other candidates

• Bruce Blakeman (R)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.