New York Candidates to Address Housing Crisis

Gubernatorial candidates propose competing strategies to tackle rising housing costs ahead of the November election.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Apartments

Row of historic brownstone buildings in a New York residential district with scaffolding against a facade under warm autumn sunlight. — New York gubernatorial candidates Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman are presenting competing housing policy platforms to address the state's severe affordability crisis. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local government intervene more aggressively to lower housing costs in your community?

As the November 2026 election approaches, Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman are outlining distinct policy platforms to address the state's housing affordability crisis. The candidates aim to reverse trends that have driven population loss and created extreme housing shortages.

Why it matters

New York housing costs have consistently outpaced national averages over the last decade, forcing many residents to leave the state. With vacancy rates at record lows, the housing crisis remains the primary concern for voters this election cycle.

New York City requires 700,000 new homes over the next decade to meet current demand, while the apartment vacancy rate stands at just 1.4 percent. Median home prices in Nassau County have climbed from $750,000 in 2020 to over $960,000 today.

The players

Kathy Hochul

She is the current Governor of New York seeking re-election while promoting state-led housing development and permitting reform.

Bruce Blakeman

He is a New York gubernatorial candidate who proposes leveraging rent-stabilization policy modifications to address housing availability.

The details

Kathy Hochul advocates for streamlining permitting and reducing environmental reviews to boost supply, whereas Bruce Blakeman proposes modifying rent-increase limits to incentivize landlords. These measures arrive as a rowhouse in East New York is now listed for $1.1 million, more than double its 2015 price of $550,000.

In 2015, an East New York rowhouse sold for $550,000.
Between 2020 and 2025, the New York population decreased by 200,000 people.
In October 2020, the median home price in Nassau County was $750,000.
On October 20, 2026, Gothamist reviewed current StreetEasy apartment listings.
The New York gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 2026.

Culture Shift

These candidate policies are being measured against the New York City housing agency's ten-year development forecast, which identifies the need for 700,000 new homes. This signals a departure from previous incremental approaches in favor of a more aggressive push for large-scale housing expansion.

Residents may see significant changes to local rental affordability and home purchase competition depending on which policy approach is adopted. These changes will directly influence monthly living expenses for renters and prospective homeowners throughout the state.

The takeaway

Voters should carefully examine the long-term impact of proposed rent-stabilization changes versus permit reform on their local neighborhoods. Evaluating these differences is essential for understanding how the next administration will manage the state's severe housing shortage.