Pataki Says Blakeman Can Still Win Governor's Race
Former Governor George Pataki argues that polls showing Democrat Kathy Hochul ahead do not decide the election.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Commentary
Live Poll
Do you think New York state government is headed in the right direction?
Former Republican Governor George Pataki said GOP candidate Bruce Blakeman could still win New York's governorship despite independent polls showing Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul leading by double digits. Blakeman has disputed surveys by Siena, Quinnipiac, and Marist colleges.
Why it matters
Pataki's comments frame the race as one in which polling leads are not decisive, pointing to his own 1994 upset of Mario Cuomo, whom final polls had shown ahead. For New York voters, the argument centers on whether a Hochul win would strengthen Mamdani's influence over state policy.
In 1994, Pataki won by 4 points after a Daily News straw poll showed him trailing by 17 points, and six final polls had shown Cuomo ahead. Hochul defeated Republican Lee Zeldin by 6 points in 2022, and Democrats hold a roughly 2.5-to-1 enrollment advantage.
The players
George Pataki
Former Republican governor of New York who won the 1994 gubernatorial election over three-term Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo.
Bruce Blakeman
Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York who has disputed independent polls showing him trailing Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
Kathy Hochul
Democratic governor of New York seeking reelection, who defeated Republican Lee Zeldin by 6 points in 2022.
Mamdani
Democratic socialist mayor of New York City whose influence Pataki warns would grow under a Hochul administration.
The details
On WABC radio's Cats Roundtable with host John Catsimatidis, Pataki said voters at the ballot box are the only poll that counts. He also warned that Republicans unhappy with Washington could sit out the election, which he called a mistake, and argued that a Hochul win would let Mayor Mamdani direct Albany politicians toward higher taxes and harmful policies.
Timeline
1994: Pataki defeats Mario Cuomo in the New York gubernatorial election.
2022: Hochul defeats Republican Lee Zeldin by 6 points.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: New York gubernatorial election voting day.
Political Context
Pataki's argument invokes his 1994 defeat of Mario Cuomo, when a Daily News straw poll showed him trailing by 17 points and six final polls had Cuomo ahead. Opposition to Hochul therefore rests on the claim that the 2026 polls, like those in 1994, may understate the Republican candidate's chances.
Voters in New York will decide the governorship on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and Pataki's comments are aimed at persuading Republicans who might otherwise stay home. The outcome will determine whether state tax and spending policy is shaped in Albany under Hochul or under a different governor.
The takeaway
Polls are snapshots rather than verdicts, and the 1994 result is a reminder that turnout decides close races. Readers should weigh the candidates' records and the stakes of the November 3 vote rather than the polling margin alone.
Further reading
For more analysis of how the race is being framed, see Commentary in New York politics.
Live Poll
Do you think New York state government is headed in the right direction?
