Hochul faces revolt from unlikely New Yorkers as Democrats deliver scathing verdict on their party

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate challenging New York Governor Kathy Hochul, is courting voters in the Bronx who say they are disillusioned with the Democratic Party’s direction. At a campaign rally held on a Thursday evening at the Crosstown Diner in the Bronx, Blakeman and former Democratic Bronx Assemblyman Stephen Kaufman spoke to a crowd of residents who expressed frustration over rising costs, public safety concerns and what they see as the party’s move toward socialist policies.

“It’s not your Democratic Party anymore. It’s become the Democratic Socialist, a.k.a. Communist Party,” said Lisa, a longtime resident of the Throggs Neck neighborhood. “Kathy was all in support and quiet about it. She didn’t defend the homeowners.”

Kaufman, who had served in the New York State Assembly, echoed similar complaints. “They’re not Democrats. They’re socialists and communists,” he told Fox News Digital. “They’re just not Democrats, they’re not moderates.” He accused the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) of gaining influence over the state party and warned that Democrats were turning into a “house of hatred” that no longer welcomes moderate voices. “Every time she has a problem, she goes crying to the hard left. She’s totally controlled by them,” he added.

Blakeman, who ran for Nassau County executive from 2014 to 2018, highlighted his record in that office. “I have not raised taxes a penny in five years,” he said. “I have cut taxes by $150 million.” He promised to cut taxes, lower utility bills and improve public safety if elected. “I’ll take my record, compare it to hers,” he said, pointing to Hochul’s “straight F’s” on what he described as her record of raising taxes, utility rates 48 times and expanding cash‑less bail programs that, he argued, “make it easier for criminals to operate in our neighborhoods.”

Hochul, who has led the state since 2021, has faced criticism for her administration’s handling of utility rates and public safety. Critics claim she has increased electricity rates 42 times, restricted the construction of natural‑gas lines, and shut down utility plants. They also point to a series of 48 utility rate increases since she took office. The governor’s supporters argue that the measures are part of a broader strategy to transition the state’s energy infrastructure toward renewable sources and to address safety concerns.

A registered Democrat in the crowd said, “I vote to what affects me, my community, the people I live with. I vote for the middle class.” The man explained that his party’s failure to address the needs of working families was pushing him toward Blakeman. He added, “I vote for who’s going to help the middle class.”

The DSA’s influence in New York has grown in recent years. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City in 2021, and DSA‑backed candidates have defeated incumbent Democrats in congressional primaries across the state. The movement has also seen victories elsewhere: Melat Kiros, a DSA‑backed candidate, defeated long‑time Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado; and Janeese Lewis George, who describes herself as a democratic socialist, captured the mayoral nomination in Washington, D.C.

Blakeman’s campaign is hoping to capitalize on the sentiment expressed by Bronx voters that the Democratic Party has drifted too far left. He told the audience, “I will cut taxes. I will cut utility bills. And I will make communities safer just like I did in my own county as county executive.” He said he has evidence of Hochul’s shortcomings, citing her “report card” of tax hikes and policy decisions he believes harm middle‑class families.

When Fox News Digital asked Hochul’s office for a comment on the accusations, no response was received. The campaign event was attended by a mix of Democrats and independents, many of whom have expressed concerns about affordability, crime and what they view as an increasingly progressive party platform.

Blakeman’s message, which stresses fiscal conservatism and public safety, is a contrast to Hochul’s record of tax increases and progressive policy initiatives. Whether the Bronx voters who gathered at the Crosstown Diner will translate that frustration into votes for the Republican challenger remains to be seen in the weeks leading up to New York’s gubernatorial election.