Early voting kicked off on Saturday across California and New York, but the real drama unfolded in Brooklyn where Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul finally shared a stage. The two Democrats spent just 15 minutes greeting voters in McCarren Park before heading off in separate cars, a brief moment that highlighted the uneasy alliance between the city’s left-wing mayor and the state’s moderate governor.
While Mamdani tries to rally his base, his Republican opponent Bruce Blakeman is hammering Hochul over broken promises. The race for New York governor is heating up as Election Day on Nov. 3 approaches, with both sides making their final pitches to a skeptical public.
A Brief Alliance in Brooklyn
The joint appearance in Brooklyn was short but telling. Mamdani nodded as Hochul outlined her plans for universal childcare and housing within the state’s existing budget. She did not commit to the “tax the rich” demands of the Democratic Socialists of America, instead focusing on keeping streets safe.
When asked about her stance, Hochul pivoted to attack her rival. “People want to make sure that we not let someone who’s promised [President] Trump-style leadership in our state,” Hochul added, in an apparent swipe at her Republican rival, according to the New York Post. She then turned to the crowd to defend her partnership with the mayor, asking, “And those question why I’m campaigning with him?” she said, turning back to the mayor.
Her defense rested on Mamdani’s approval numbers.
Blakeman Strikes Back at Hochul
While the Democrats were in Brooklyn, Blakeman held his own “early voting” rally in Chinatown. He did not mince words about Hochul’s record, specifically targeting her flip-flop on congestion pricing. According to reports, who cited Hochul’s broken pledge to stop congestion pricing, she is untrustworthy.
Hochel has failed to establish trust within the state, Blakeman stressed. He argued that her failure to deliver on past promises makes her a risky choice for New Yorkers looking for stability. The GOP attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy joined him, setting the stage for a tough fight against incumbent Democrat Letitia James.
The California Context
Across the country, the final stretch of the California governor’s race is also intense. Republican Steve Hilton is trying to close the gap with Democrat Xavier Becerra. A recent statewide poll by The California Post shows Hilton trailing by 16 points, down from a 23-point deficit earlier.
Hilton has put forward aggressive proposals that include cutting electricity bills by half and ensuring the first $150,000 of income remains tax-free. He has also vowed to suspend California’s carbon market, calling it “a disaster of a program.” Despite the energy, he still faces a tough climb to overtake the incumbent Democrat.
Both states are heading into a critical weekend of early voting. New Yorkers will decide on Nov. 3 whether to keep Hochul or hand the reins to Blakeman, while California voters will choose between Becerra and Hilton.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
