Bruce Blakeman branded Gov. Kathy Hochul the “puppet” of left-wing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Republican campaign rally Sunday at an upstate shopping center, criticizing her administration’s sanctuary policies and limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The GOP gubernatorial candidate accused Hochul of ignoring violence allegedly committed by criminal illegal immigrants and faulted her for opposing cooperation between New York and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also criticized the governor for aligning herself with what he called “un-American” politicians, including the city’s Democratic socialist mayor.
“Kathy Hochul, she was out campaigning with Mamdani this week,” Blakeman told roughly 200 Republican supporters gathered at the Triangle Shopping Center in Yorktown Heights. “And I say that’s great.
“Please take him everywhere you go, Kathy, because I want to remind people that this un-American, antisemite, anti-Christian mayor is running the Democratic Party and Kathy Hochul is nothing more than his puppet!”
Blakeman appeared alongside several other Republican candidates, including Saritha Komatireddy, who is challenging state Attorney General Letitia James, and US Rep. Mike Lawler, who is facing Democratic challenger Cait Conley.
“She spends more on criminal illegal migrants than she does on our veterans,” Lawler said of Hochul. “She’s an absolute disgrace to serve as our governor.
“We need to do everything we can to elect Bruce Blakeman our next governor,” he added.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: California Commentator Steve Hilton Reveals His Bullet Train Vision
Jessica and Thomas Gorman also stood with Blakeman. Their 18-year-old daughter, a Loyola University freshman from New York, was fatally shot while walking along Lake Michigan in March. Authorities allege that Jose Medina was responsible.
Medina, a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm. Federal officials said he entered the United States illegally in 2023.
“When you call Mike [Lawler] a fighter, you weren’t kidding,” a distraught Jessica Gorman said. “And Bruce and Saritha, God, they’re the hope for our communities. I have to be honest with you, I sometimes have days where this feels very hopeless. So thank you for being here for Mike.”
Gorman described Lawler, Blakeman, Komatireddy and the other Republican officials at the rally as “our hope.”
Blakeman also attacked New York’s approach to crime, saying, “There is no consequence for committing crimes in New York State. We got to get back to American values. The Ten Commandments say thou shalt not steal — except in New York!”
The multi-candidate gathering included refreshments and free campaign merchandise, such as Lawler’s “American 250” tote bags, as well as bracelets, pens and lawn signs supporting the various candidates.
Other Republicans attending the event included US Rep. Nichole Malliotakis, state Senate candidate Sergio Esposito, state Assemblyman Matt Slater and comptroller candidate Joseph Hernandez.