Bruce Blakeman Could Be Out Millions After Campaign Finance Ruling On Matched Funds: Report

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman could be out millions of dollars after a Tuesday campaign finance ruling that denied his campaign matching funds from the state.

Mar. 31 Ruling

According to a Newsday report, New York’s state Public Campaign Finance Board ruled 4-3 against giving Blakeman public matching funds for his campaign on Tuesday, citing a failure by the county executive to include his running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, on campaign paperwork.

Notably, the report indicates that the vote took place along party lines, with four democrats on the board “agreeing with a staff recommendation that Blakeman was ineligible” for the funds, while the board’s three republican members reportedly accused the board of using a “bureaucratic snafu to punish” the republican nominee.

According to Newsday, staff said it was the campaign’s responsibility to fix the error, which had passed, on March 2.

At the time of the ruling, Blakeman trailed Hochul “by about $20 million,” and the matching funds could “prove crucial to his campaign,” Newsday reported.

How The Matching Program Works

As the New York City Campaign Finance Board explains, the matching program allows candidates to receive matched funds for their campaigns by engaging with New Yorkers, rather than “seeking large contributions from special interests.” This program gives New York City residents power in their voices in elections by matching their small-dollar contributions to the candidate.

Candidates will have spending limits and can only spend matched funds on their campaign. They must also agree to return any public funds not used to further their campaign.

To be eligible to receive matched funds, candidates must meet certain criteria:

• Collect a minimum number of contributions of $10 or more from the area they wish to represent.
• Raise a minimum amount of qualifying contributions from NYC residents.
• Certify agreement to comply with the Act and Board Rules’ requirements.
• Be on the ballot, and have an opponent on the ballot, too.
• File a personal financial disclosure with the Conflicts of Interest Board.

Where The Race Stands Right Now

The campaign finance vote also came on the same day as a new Siena poll that showed promising numbers for Blakeman. While 64 percent of voters surveyed in the Siena poll said they’d either never heard of the Nassau County Executive or didn’t know enough about him to have an opinion, Hochul’s lead shrunk by seven points. A 26-percentage-point lead recorded in early February has been cut in half, with Hochul leading Blakeman 47-34 percent in Tuesday’s poll.

It’s the first time Hochul’s share of a Siena poll in this race has fallen below 50 percent, and the closest Blakeman has come to the incumbent governor. In the last poll, he had trailed Hochul 51-31 percent.

Almost a week ago, Politico reported that Blakeman’s campaign had circulated an internal poll showing him just nine points behind Hochul, trailing by a 52-43 percent margin.

What The Campaigns Are Saying

When reached for comment, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said it was incumbent on each candidate and their campaign to make sure they file the correct paperwork to qualify.

“The bipartisan Public Campaign Finance Board makes its own determinations, and the onus is on each campaign to ensure they meet its requirements,” Radulovacki said. “Bruce Blakeman doesn’t need any help from us to run an incompetent, losing campaign – and by embracing Trump’s illegal tariffs and enabling ICE’s overreach, he’s ensuring New Yorkers will send him packing this November.”

On the other side of the race, Madison Spanodemos, a Blakeman campaign spokesperson, responded to the ruling with pointed criticism of Hochul.

“With the race tightening and her poll numbers sagging, it’s no surprise Kathy Hochul’s handpicked appointee would vote to take away funds from Bruce Blakeman’s campaign,” she said. “While it reeks of corruption, no money in the world can hide Kathy Hochul’s record of driving up taxes, rent, utility bills, and insurance premiums.”