Hochul Wins Big in NYC Immigrant Neighborhoods

Governor Kathy Hochul captured most votes in New York City's immigrant neighborhoods against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in the 2026 race.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a navy New York City skyline against a cream field, with amber windows glowing in the lower district. — Governor Kathy Hochul won 73 percent of the vote in New York City's immigrant neighborhoods, defeating Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in the 2026 race. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul captured 73.08% of votes in New York City's immigrant neighborhoods, while Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman received 26.9%. As of Wednesday morning, Hochul held 60% of the statewide vote.

Why it matters

Immigrant communities in the city were affected by months of ICE raids, undercover street arrests, and due-process concerns in immigration courts. The result reflects how immigration enforcement and the rising cost of living shifted some immigrant voters who had previously backed Trump toward Democrats.

The analysis apportioned an estimated 294,135 votes, roughly 17.5% of the 1.68 million cast citywide, from election districts to census tracts using area-weighted intersection, giving Hochul 73.08% against Blakeman's 26.9% in immigrant neighborhoods. Because tract-level figures are modeled estimates, precise per-neighborhood counts remain unverified.

The players

Kathy Hochul

Democratic Governor of New York who signed a set of immigrant-protection laws earlier in 2026, including the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.

Bruce Blakeman

Republican challenger in the 2026 New York governor's race and a vocal supporter of 287(g) agreements and Trump's immigration policies, who increased collaboration with ICE in Nassau County.

The details

Immigrant neighborhoods were defined as areas where more than half the population was born outside the U.S. Blakeman drew his strongest support in several dozen South Brooklyn census tracts where over half the population is foreign-born, while Hochul's support was broad across areas such as Queens.

January 2025: Trump re-entered office and the federal immigration crackdown began.
Earlier in 2026: Hochul signed immigrant-protection laws, including the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.
Earlier this summer 2026: Blakeman resisted, then yielded to Hochul's ban on ICE collaboration.
November 4, 2026: Election Day midterms, with Hochul's re-election results reported.

Political Context

The result came after Hochul's Local Cops, Local Crimes Act restricted local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, a position Blakeman opposed through his support of 287(g) agreements. Opponents of such limits argue that they weaken federal enforcement, a concern Blakeman's campaign raised through its backing of Trump-era immigration policy.

Residents of immigrant neighborhoods are directly affected by state rules on local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which shape whether local officers can be asked to assist ICE operations. The policies voters endorsed determine how those cooperation rules apply in daily life across the city.

The takeaway

Immigrant voters in New York City shifted sharply toward Hochul, signaling that immigration enforcement and living costs are powerful forces in local politics. Readers should watch how state immigrant-protection laws are implemented in practice.