Blakeman Denied Public Funds, Plans to Sue

0:00On March 31st, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenging New York Governor Kathy Hoechul, just got shut out of public campaign. Funds. The public campaign finance board, stacked with four Democrats and three Republicans, voted straight down party lines to deny him up to $7 million. Blakeman met the certification, but his running-made Todd Hood didn't file the joint application required by a new Democrat rule. Just point to that rule, past last December, saying gubernatorial candidates and their lieutenant governor picks have to apply together. They claim Hood never submitted anything, even though the form for it wasn't even ready at voting time. Republicans call it pure politics, a bureaucratic trick to knee-capped the competition. Blakeman's team is firing back hard, blimming Hoechul's appointees for the block as her poll slip and the race heats up. GOP board members labeled it an abomination. Failing the board failed to notify candidates about the requirements and it kills the spirit

1:01of public. Financing. Now Blakeman plans to sue over the denial, arguing its unfair gamesmanship. Even Dems and Mid-Lutiny Governor Hopefuls aren't eligible on their own, but should have filed anyway for a merge. This leaves Blakeman already a long shot in a deep blue state that hasn't gone Republican statewide since 2002, fighting for every dollar. As the governor's race titans, U.S. news today, powered by AI bringing you what matters nationwide, I'm Cory with the story.