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New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul declined to directly defend socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate after her Republican challenger accused him of being antisemitic, anti-Christian and un-American.
“With all the issues that face New York City, the first thing he did was sign an executive order to water down the definition of antisemitism, shame on you, mayor,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on the debate stage before pointing his attention at Hochul over her endorsement of the socialist New York City mayor.
“You are campaigning around the state with a guy who doesn’t believe in American values,” Blakeman said. “He talks about collectivism. That means you take personal property rights away. You take other people’s property rights. This is a guy that’s anti-Christian, couldn’t find an hour out of his day to attend the installation of a new archbishop here in New York City, the biggest religion in the city of New York. Look, if you want to campaign with him, that’s fine. But I will tell you right now, I think Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite. I believe he’s anti-Christian. And I don’t think he has American values.”
Hochul responded by turning to the moderator and deciding to answer a previous question about comments, reported by the New York Times, Blakeman made in a “secret meeting” related to whether the NYPD under Mamdani would respond if far-left protesters were causing violence against the Jewish community. Blakeman disputed her characterization of that meeting before complimenting Mamdani for selecting and keeping Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner.
“Let’s move on,” the moderator then said.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman sparred over a variety of issues in their first and only debate, including NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani (Anna Connors – Pool/Getty Images ; John Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
“Antisemitism is on the rise, and it’s occurred under your watch, and Zohran Mamdani is fueling it,” Blakeman added before the conversation moved to another topic.
Republicans quickly highlighted the exchange on social media.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the site where a man was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an operation in the Bronx, on October 8, 2026, in New York City. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, he’s anti-Christian, and he’s anti-American. And Kathy Hochul is campaigning with him,” Kristin Cianci, Northeast Comms Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on X. “What an utter disgrace. New York deserves better.”
“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, anti-Christian and anti-American,” the New York Republican Party posted on X. “And he’s Kathy Hochul’s best friend. “
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Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman face off in the only scheduled debate ahead of the November New York gubernatorial election on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in New York. (Anna Connors/Pool The New York Times)
Hochul was asked about the exchange and why she “didn’t defend the mayor” by a reporter on Wednesday morning during a press conference on the state’s investment into the first-ever community center in Jackson Heights.
“I’m not going to take the bait from someone who’s throwing out such insane arguments,” Hochul said.
“He had a litany of things that were either false or so absurd that I’m not going to dignify them with a response from me, the governor. So, everyone knows I reject that, his description of the mayor. The mayor and I are great partners, we’re working hard together. And I’m not gonna give him the dignity of responding to those kind of crazy comments. And that’s pretty consistent how I’ve been.”
The two New York politicians clashed on a variety of issues on Tuesday night, including President Donald Trump, a recent ICE-involved shooting, energy prices, and inflation.
Democrats outnumber Republicans by a roughly two-to-one margin in blue-leaning New York state, but polling in September indicated that Blakeman has cut his deficit against Hochul to single digits.
Hochul, who is running for a second full four-year term steering the nation’s fourth most populous state, stood at 50% support among likely voters in New York, with Blakeman at 41%, according to a Siena College poll conducted Sept. 11-17.
By a 50%-30% margin, voters said Mamdani’s support for Hochul is a plus for the governor’s bid for re-election.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report