2026 candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York

2026 candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York Categories: News 2026 candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York By Sydney Martin, Senior Writer October 14, 2026 Sofia Fitzgerald The 2026 candidates for Governor of New York are Democrat Kathy Hochul, Republican Bruce Blakeman, Independent Jean Anglade and Prohibitionist Jonathan Makeley Governor candidates Kathy Hochul, Democrat Democrat Kathy Hochul is the incumbent governor of New York and is running for a second full term this election cycle against Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman. After entering the position in 2021 and winning a full term in 2022, Hochul is running as the Democratic Party nominee after running uncontested in a canceled primary this summer.  Hochul is a lifelong New Yorker and has previously represented the 26th District of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as Lieutenant Governor of New York from 2015 to 2021. Her campaign is centered around community safety, lower housing costs and increasing support for children and parents. As governor, she has worked to expand childcare access across the state and increased the state’s minimum wage. She has also promised to continue to oppose United States President Donald Trump and “MAGA extremism” in New York. The Ithacan reached out to Kathy Hochul’s campaign but did not receive a response in time for publication.  Bruce Blakeman, Republican Republican Bruce Blakeman is the current county executive of Nassau County and is running as the Republican nominee for governor of New York against Democratic nominee Kathy Hochul. Blakeman was first elected to his county position in 2021, defeating the Democratic incumbent, and was reelected in 2025. Blakeman ran unopposed in the Republican primary earlier this year.  His campaign platform is focused on lowering taxes and cutting utility bills, in addition to lowering crime. As Nassau County Executive, Blakeman has worked against immigration sanctuary policies, opposed property taxes and increased the police presence throughout the county by creating more positions. As governor, he has promised to restructure state spending in order to provide a cut to state income taxes. He has also been a vocal critic of Kathy Hochul. The Ithacan reached out to Bruce Blakeman’s campaign but did not receive a response in time for publication. Jean Anglade, Independent Jean Anglade is an entrepreneur from New York City running as a write-in independent candidate. His campaign platform is focused on the affordability crisis and combating police corruption. Anglade previously ran in the 2025 New York City mayoral election. In this campaign, he is focused on creating a government that is transparent in its actions and works for the people, providing them with opportunities in their own communities.  Jonathan Makeley, Prohibitionist Jonathan Makeley is a historian from Western New York, running as a write-in candidate with the Prohibition Party. Makeley also serves as the State Chairman for the Prohibition Party of New York, which he helped reestablish in 2017, and as the secretary of the national organization. The Prohibition Party was founded in 1869 and played a key part in the temperance movement and banning the sale of alcohol in the United States in the early 20th century. The party is now more focused on the heavy regulation of alcohol, as well as supporting stronger anti-corruption laws in government and increased healthcare access.  Makeley is running on a platform of addressing drug and public health problems, improving public education at all levels and improving affordability statewide. The platform also includes policies to improve New York’s infrastructure, as well as protecting the state’s natural environment. He also advocated for passing laws that would expand access to the ballot for third-party and independent candidates.  Lieutenant Governor candidates The 2026 candidates for lieutenant governor of New York are Democrat Adrienne Adams and Republican Todd Hood. (Sofia Fitzgerald) Adrienne Adams, Democrat Kathy Hochul’s choice for lieutenant governor is Adrienne Adams, a former New York City Councilmember from Queens, New York. She replaces current lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado. Adams represented the 28th District — including parts of Richmond Hill and Jamaica — and was Speaker from 2022 to 2025 when her term ended. On the Council, Adams worked to advance women’s health and reproductive healthcare and created a budget to fund community safety and victim services in New York. She has also focused on public safety, working to pass laws that create more restrictions on locations where firearms are permitted and investing in community-focused solutions to adapt to neighborhood-specific problems. As lieutenant governor, she would focus on the safety and livelihoods of families in the state.  Todd Hood, Republican Bruce Blakeman’s running mate is Todd Hood, who has served as the Madison County Sheriff since 2018, where he oversees a staff of more than 170 and a budget of $9.5 million. Hood, born in Oneida, New York, has lived in Madison County for his entire life and spent the majority of his career in law enforcement, where he has served with the Syracuse Police Department and worked as an investigator in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. He brings experience in public safety to the campaign and said he is focused on government accountability and prioritizing safe communities.  View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment Donate to The Ithacan $1,925 $3,000 Contributed Our Goal Your donation will support The Ithacan's student journalists in their effort to keep the Ithaca College and wider Ithaca community informed. Your contribution will go toward covering our annual website hosting costs and supplementing other expenses, including travel to conferences. 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