MEMO: GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS IN A COMMANDING POSITION HEADING INTO HER RE-ELECTION
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: DGA Political Director Chris Sloan
DATE: May 27, 2025
SUBJECT: MEMO: Update on the New York Gubernatorial Race
With a record of delivering results on the issues that matter to New Yorkers and a strong and well-resourced campaign, Governor Kathy Hochul is in a commanding position heading into her re-election. In the past few months, the Governor has once again shown she is an effective leader by passing a historic budget that puts money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, keeps New Yorkers safe on the streets and subway, and invests in kids’ futures. Amidst attacks from the Trump administration and D.C. Republicans on everything from constitutional rights to reproductive freedom to health care, Governor Hochul has courageously stood up for New York. As a battle-tested leader, Governor Hochul is the only candidate in this race building the campaign infrastructure to communicate to New Yorkers across the state about the fights she is taking on and the victories she has won on their behalf.
For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated – and each time proved her critics wrong. The Democratic Governors Association is proud to support Governor Hochul as she runs for re-election – and we are confident that she will handily win in 2026.
Governor Hochul Is Fighting For – And Delivering On – The Priorities That Matter To New Yorkers
New Yorkers elected Governor Hochul to deliver results, and she has done exactly that. Her budget has been heralded by The New York Times as a “battle plan” for the Democratic Party by aggressively addressing the affordability crisis, making communities safer, and protecting New York’s kids. Gov. Hochul secured key legislative wins that resonate with not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans: tripling the size of New York’s Child Tax Credit, cutting taxes for middle class New Yorkers (bringing them to the lowest rate in 70 years), and sending first-of-their-kind inflation rebate checks directly to taxpayers. The Governor has taken action to keep communities safe, including fixing the discovery laws that allowed dangerous criminals back on our streets, putting more law enforcement on the subways, and combating the rise in hate crimes.
As New York’s first mom governor, she’s been fearless in making your family her fight – ensuring free school meals for over 2.7 million children and passing a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools so that kids can focus on learning. And she has led the way with first-in-the-nation policies that support mothers and families like paid prenatal leave, making New York the best state to raise a family.
Governor Hochul Is Building A Campaign To Win With “Impressive Fundraising”
Governor Hochul is building the campaign infrastructure and raising the resources needed to communicate her record of getting results to New Yorkers in every corner of the state. New York is a big, expensive state with multiple media markets, diverse communities, small towns, and the biggest city in the country – and Governor Hochul is building a campaign apparatus that will reach every neighborhood and every community. She has a track record of organizing to win – and not just in her own race. Because of the Governor’s leadership, New York Democrats flipped four U.S. House seats in 2024 and held on to a key Democratic battleground seat. With key investments, Governor Hochul has revived and reinvigorated the New York State Democratic Party infrastructure, ensuring it has the resources to win up and down the ballot.
She is a prodigious fundraiser who, as of the most recent public filings, has already raised $10 million, with more than $15 million cash on hand. As reporting has noted, “Her impressive fundraising numbers put Hochul in an early position to financially dominate anyone who dares challenge her.”
Electoral Strength
Governor Hochul knows how to win. She has a record of winning tough races that goes back decades. In 2011, at the height of the Tea Party, she flipped a Congressional seat that everyone thought was impossible for a Democrat. In 2014 and 2018, Governor Hochul won hotly contested lieutenant gubernatorial primaries. The Governor dominated the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2022, defeating well-funded challengers from the left and right by nearly 50 points and becoming the first woman elected governor of New York.
The Trump Acolytes
The Republican nomination in New York will be decided by one person: Donald Trump. Trump and his advisors’ influence are everywhere in this race – and the President has made clear he wants to play a decisive role in his home state’s Republican primary. Elise Stefanik, Mike Lawler, and Bruce Blakeman have all repeatedly backed Trump’s agenda – even when it hurts New Yorkers. The three Republicans have all enthusiastically supported Donald Trump’s tariffs, which are raising prices for New Yorkers. Lawler even defended the President’s comments on doll rationing and Blakeman literally showed up to the White House’s tariff announcement (where he earned a shout out from Trump). Lawler and Stefanik both voted for Trump’s plan that puts health care for 3.3 million New Yorkers at risk and would take away food assistance from 296,683 households.
The shadow Republican primary – which has already grown fractious and messy – has had very little to do with New York and everything to do with gaining favor with the President. The contrast in the general election couldn’t be clearer between Governor Hochul who relentlessly fights for New Yorkers and the eventual Republican nominee’s fealty to Trump. Just like in 2022, we know that the Republican nominee’s deep connections to Trumpworld will garner significant support from the President’s billionaire allies. It will be critical for Democrats to be unified behind Governor Hochul and ensure that her campaign has the support it needs to push back against a flood of out-of-state Republican dark money.
Conclusion
With a top-notch campaign infrastructure and a record of fighting and delivering for New York on the issues that matter, Governor Kathy Hochul is in a strong position to win re-election. While a cadre of Trump loyalists and largely unknown Democratic opponents consider running against her, Governor Hochul is demonstrating the leadership that New Yorkers want: defending fundamental rights, lowering costs, and addressing public safety. This record – and her steadfast commitment to standing up to Donald Trump to protect the Empire State – makes Governor Hochul the strong favorite in the primary and the general election. Put simply, no one should underestimate Kathy Hochul.
The Democratic Governors Association is proud to wholeheartedly support the Governor – in both the Democratic primary and the general election. We know how to win. And we put our money where our mouth is. Since 2016, the DGA has won 26 out of 27 incumbent re-election races. Governor Hochul is a leader who is meeting the moment – and her record, combined with the well-organized and robust campaign she is building, puts her on the path to victory next November.
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