The 2026 New York gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of New York. Incumbent Democratic governor Kathy Hochul is running for re-election to a second full term. Primary elections took place on June 23, 2026. The gubernatorial candidates selected their running mates, instead of having separate primaries.

Hochul will face Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican and Conservative nominee, in the general election. After U.S. representative Elise Stefanik withdrew from the Republican primary in December 2025, Blakeman was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Republicans have not won a statewide election in New York since George Pataki was re-elected governor in 2002.

Background Governor Kathy Hochul took office on August 24, 2021, upon the resignation of her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo. Hochul was elected to a full term in 2022 with 53.1% of the vote in the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

Democratic primary Due to low approval ratings, poor Democratic performances in the 2022 midterm elections in New York, and controversies surrounding her administration, Hochul was considered vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2026.

On June 2, 2025, following months of reports about a strained relationship with the governor's office, Antonio Delgado launched his campaign for the Democratic nomination. On February 4, 2026, he announced nurse, union organizer, and socialist activist India Walton as his running mate.

Despite early perceptions of vulnerability to a left-wing challenge, Hochul was endorsed in February 2026 by Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both prominent members of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. Politico noted that the endorsements "all but crowd out her little-known primary challenger, (Antonio) Delgado," while Democratic strategist Trip Yang called Hochul "the comeback player of the year." She was soon endorsed by the New York Democratic Party after securing 85% of support from party members at the state convention, and Delgado ended his campaign on February 10, 2026, citing a lack of a viable path forward.

Candidates Nominee Kathy Hochul, governor of New York (2021–present) Running mate: Adrienne Adams, former speaker of the New York City Council (2022–2025) from the 28th district (2017–2025) and candidate for mayor of New York City in 2025

Withdrawn Antonio Delgado, lieutenant governor of New York (2022–present) Running mate: India Walton, community organizer and nominee for mayor of Buffalo in 2021

Declined Letitia James, attorney general of New York (2019–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Hochul) Tom Suozzi, U.S. representative from (2017–2023, 2024–present) and candidate for governor in 2006 and 2022 (running for re-election, endorsed Hochul) Ritchie Torres, U.S. representative from (2021–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Hochul)

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated AntonioDelgado KathyHochul UndecidedMarginRealClearPoliticsMarch 26 – February 3, 2026December 16, 202511.0%57.5%31.5%Hochul +46.5%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AntonioDelgado KathyHochul Other Undecided February 10, 2026 Delgado withdraws from the raceSiena CollegeJanuary 26–28, 2026– (RV)–11%64%2%23%John Zogby StrategiesJanuary 6–8, 2026– (LV)–12%64%–24%Siena CollegeDecember 8–12, 2025–± 4.1%13%56%2%29%Siena CollegeNovember 10–12, 2025–± 4.0%16%56%3%25%GrayHouse (R)September 20–26, 2025605 (LV)–14%43%15%28%Siena CollegeAugust 4–7, 2025813 (RV)± 4.2%15%50%4%31%

Kathy Hochul vs. Antonio Delgado vs. Ritchie Torres Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KathyHochul AntonioDelgado RitchieTorres Other UndecidedSiena CollegeJune 23–26, 2025800 (RV)± 4.4%49%12%10%4%26%Siena CollegeMay 12–15, 2025805 (RV)± 4.3%46%12%10%4%28%GrayHouse (R)April 22–24, 2025262 (RV)–24%6%7%8%55%Siena CollegeApril 14–16, 2025802 (RV)± 4.4%44%12%9%5%30%Data for Progress (D)March 26–31, 2025767 (LV)± 4.0%51%11%11%–27%Siena CollegeMarch 2–6, 2025400 (RV)–46%11%10%4%28%Citizen DataFebruary 10, 2025– (RV)± 4.4%52%15%12%–21%

Republican primary U.S. representative Elise Stefanik was considered a potential gubernatorial candidate throughout 2025. She formally announced her candidacy on November 7, 2025. A July 2025 Siena poll showed Stefanik leading two other potential Republican gubernatorial candidates, U.S. representative Mike Lawler and Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman. In May 2025, President Donald Trump endorsed Lawler and Blakeman for re-election to their current posts "in a not-so-subtle attempt to clear the field for upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to get the GOP nomination". On July 23, 2025, Mike Lawler announced that he would run for re-election to Congress.

Bruce Blakeman was re-elected to the post of Nassau County executive by a double-digit margin in November 2025. When asked about Blakeman's potential gubernatorial candidacy, Trump stated that Blakeman and Stefanik were "both great people". On December 9, 2025, Blakeman launched his campaign for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination. According to The New York Times, Trump's decision to remain neutral and not to attempt to clear the field for Stefanik "sent shock waves through Republican circles". On December 19, Stefanik announced she was withdrawing her candidacy. President Trump endorsed Blakeman's candidacy on December 20.

In February 2026, Libertarian nominee Larry Sharpe announced his intention to petition his way onto the Republican primary ballot.

Candidates Nominee Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive (2021–present) Running mate: Todd Hood, Madison County sheriff (2018–present)

Did not qualify Larry Sharpe, business training company founder and perennial candidate Running mate: Mike Carpinelli, Lewis County sheriff (2006–present) Pat Hahn, union leader David Tulley, cannabis shop owner

Withdrawn Carl Hyde Jr., town supervisor of Bethany Elise Stefanik, U.S. representative from (2015–present)

Declined Mike Lawler, U.S. representative from (2023–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Stefanik)

Endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BruceBlakeman Anothercandidate UndecidedJohn Zogby StrategiesJanuary 6–8, 2026– (LV)–34%21%45%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BruceBlakeman EliseStefanik Other UndecidedSiena CollegeDecember 8–12, 2025–± 4.1%17%48%1%34%J.L. Partners (R)November 9–10, 2025400 (LV)± 4.9%5%74%7%14%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BruceBlakeman MikeLawler EliseStefanik Other UndecidedSiena CollegeJune 23–26, 2025800 (RV)± 4.4%7%18%35%1%39%co/efficient (R)June 18–20, 20251108 (LV)± 3.8%6%8%64%–22%Siena CollegeMay 12–15, 2025805 (RV)± 4.3%11%22%35%2%30%co/efficient (R)May 1–2, 20251163 (LV)± 3.3%8%9%56%–27%GrayHouse (R)April 22–24, 2025400 (RV)± 5.0%5%7%44%–44%Siena CollegeApril 14–16, 2025802 (RV)± 4.4%28%22%–4%46%Siena CollegeMarch 2–6, 2025400 (RV)–13%25%–3%60%

Conservative convention The New York State Conservative Party held its annual conference and nominating convention in Albany in February 2026, officially endorsing Blakeman for governor. Because New York utilizes a fusion voting system, Blakeman accepted the third-party ballot line to run concurrently on both the Republican and Conservative lines. Candidates Nominee Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive (2021–present) Running mate: Todd Hood, Madison County sheriff (2018–present)

Working Families convention The New York Working Families Party declined to nominate Hochul or Delgado, instead opting for a "placeholder candidate" to appear on their ballot line. The party has stated that the placeholder candidate will later be replaced by the Democratic nominee. A convention attendee told City & State that Delgado won 41% of the weighted party committee vote to Hochul's 3%, while "placeholder candidate" won 56% of the vote. State party leaders Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila disputed the claim, but did not share the exact vote totals.

On August 21, the Working Families Party nominated Hochul and Adams. Candidates Nominee Kathy Hochul, governor of New York (2021–present) Running mate: Adrienne Adams, former speaker of the New York City Council (2022–2025) from the 28th district (2017–2025) and candidate for mayor of New York City in 2025

Independents and other parties The New York State Board of Elections rejected all petitions for non-qualified party ballot access in May 2026. Candidates Declared Jonathan Makeley (Prohibition), chair of the Prohibition Party of New York (write-in) Disqualified Larry Sharpe (Libertarian), business training company founder and perennial candidate Kevin Gay Carl Gottstein (Independent), conservative activist

General election

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 17, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsSeptember 3, 2026RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 29, 2026Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026

Post-primary endorsements

Fundraising Italics indicate a disqualified candidate. +Campaign finance reports as of July 11, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handKathy Hochul (D)$16,594,119$12,983,887$3,610,232Bruce Blakeman (R)$13,445,025$10,455,186$2,989,839Larry Sharpe (L)$121,604$114,470$7,134

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated Kathy Hochul Bruce Blakeman Other/undecidedMargin270toWinSeptember 23, 2026September 24, 202654.0%40.0%6.0%Hochul +14.0%Decision Desk HQthrough September 20, 2026September 24, 202653.5%40.5%6.0%Hochul +13.0%FiftyPlusOnethrough September 20, 2026September 24, 202651.6%40.2%8.2%Hochul +11.4%Race to the WHthrough September 17, 2026September 23, 202649.4%40.4%10.2%Hochul +9.0%RealClearPoliticsJune 30 – September 20, 2026September 24, 202651.7%40.3%8.0%Hochul +11.4%Silver Bulletinthrough September 17, 2026September 23, 202650.0%40.8%9.2%Hochul +9.2%Average51.7%40.4%7.9%Hochul +11.3%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KathyHochul (D) BruceBlakeman (R) Other UndecidedMarist UniversityOctober 1–4, 20261,361 (RV)± 3.6%53%42%1%5%co/efficient (R)September 23–25, 20261,046 (LV)± 3.0%48%41%–11%Quinnipiac UniversitySeptember 17–20, 20261,026 (LV)± 4.1%58%39%1%2%Siena CollegeSeptember 11–17, 20261,144 (LV)± 3.9%50%41%–9%McLaughlin & Associates (R)August 27–31, 2026800 (LV)± 4.7%50%46%–5%Concord Public Opinion Partners (D)August 19–21, 2026505 (LV)± 4.4%50%34%5%11%Siena CollegeAugust 3–6, 2026811 (LV)± 4.2%49%39%1%11%Moxie StrategiesJuly 22–28, 2026813 (RV)± 4.3%49%37%7%7%Red Oak Strategic (R)July 7–12, 20262,000 (RV)± 2.2%47%43%–10%co/efficient (R)June 30 – July 2, 20261,085 (LV)± 3.0%47%41%–12%Siena CollegeJune 17–23, 20261,120 (RV)± 3.6%52%32%1%15%Pollfinity ResearchJune 11–14, 2026229 (RV)± 6.5%50%40%–10%46%35%4%14%Siena CollegeApril 27–30, 2026806 (RV)± 4.2%49%33%3%16%Siena CollegeMarch 23–26, 2026804 (RV)± 4.5%47%34%3%16%Echelon Insights/Tusk StrategiesMarch 24–26, 2026500 (RV)± 5.4%55%40%–5%McLaughlin & Associates (R)March 4–8, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%52%43%–5%Siena CollegeFebruary 23–26, 2026805 (RV)± 4.5%51%31%3%15%Marist UniversityFebruary 16–19, 20261,442 (RV)± 3.3%50%33%2%15%MAD Global StrategyFebruary 2–4, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%47%34%–19%Siena CollegeJanuary 26–28, 2026802 (RV)± 4.3%54%28%1%17%John Zogby StrategiesJanuary 6–8, 2026844 (LV)± 3.4%53%39%–8%49%34%8%9%Siena CollegeDecember 8–12, 2025801 (RV)± 4.1%50%25%4%21%J.L. Partners (R)November 9–10, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%47%36%–17%Siena CollegeJune 23–26, 2025800 (RV)± 4.4%44%19%–37%GrayHouse (R)April 22–24, 2025600 (RV)± 4.0%44%36%–20%

Kathy Hochul vs. Elise Stefanik