{"id":2646456,"date":"2026-08-18T11:13:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/influential-democratic-donor-ditches-kathy-hochul-and-backs-republican-opponent\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T11:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:17:22","slug":"influential-democratic-donor-ditches-kathy-hochul-and-backs-republican-opponent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/influential-democratic-donor-ditches-kathy-hochul-and-backs-republican-opponent\/","title":{"rendered":"Influential Democratic Donor Ditches Kathy Hochul and Backs Republican Opponent"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Finfluential-democratic-donor-ditches-kathy-hochul-and-backs-republican-opponent%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646456&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A political update reports that a prominent Democratic donor, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, plans too support Republican Bruce Blakeman in his campaign to replace Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul of New York. Lautenberg,who previously donated to Hochul,has decided to hold a fundraiser for Blakeman and expressed her support,citing her friendship with him. <\/p>\n<p>Polls indicate Hochul&#8217;s lead over Blakeman is narrowing, with recent Siena Poll showing Hochul at 49% and blakeman at 39%, a decrease from earlier figures. Hochul\u2019s overall approval is divided, with a slight unfavorable rating, whereas Blakeman is viewed more favorably by some but remains largely unknown among respondents. The race remains competitive, especially among independents, with each candidate performing differently across various regions and demographic groups. Key issues like affordable housing, affordability, energy, safety, and immigration are considered in the campaign, with voters divided on who would handle these better.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A major Democratic donor will support Republican Bruce Blakeman in his effort to oust Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n<p>Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, the widow of former Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, has crossed party lines, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/17\/us-news\/prominent-dem-donor-fundraising-for-ny-gop-governor-candidate-bruce-blakeman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the talk of the Hamptons,\u201d said one Democrat who expressed surprise. \u201cIt\u2019s a good get for Bruce.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lautenberg, a 79-year-old philanthropist, had donated $1,000 to Hochul\u2019s re-election campaign in July 2025 as part of her longtime support of various Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Lautenberg confirmed she would hold a fundraiser to help Blakeman\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBruce is a longtime friend and neighbor. He\u2019s a great guy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Blakeman said, \u201cI am honored to have the support of Bonnie Lautenberg in my campaign for governor.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bruce Blakeman could unseat Hochul and turn New York red, stunning poll reveals <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jkedwj5AcV\">https:\/\/t.co\/jkedwj5AcV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SPbqZv1vD7\">pic.twitter.com\/SPbqZv1vD7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 New York Post (@nypost) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nypost\/status\/2087472070758109394?\">August 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As the candidates near the home stretch of the campaign, a new <a href=\"https:\/\/sri.siena.edu\/2026\/08\/12\/siena-poll-of-likely-new-york-state-voters-hochul-49-blakeman-39\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Siena Poll<\/a> indicates that Hochul\u2019s lead over Blakeman is shrinking.<\/p>\n<p>The poll shows Hochul leading Blakeman 49 percent to 39 percent. In June, she was ahead with 52 percent support to Blakeman\u2019s 32 percent.<\/p>\n<p>The poll of 811 respondents had a 4.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-more-than-2-3-of-republican-voters-want-trump-to-run-for-president\/\" title=\"...: More Than 2\/3 Of Republican Voters Want Trump To Run For President\">2 percentage point margin<\/a> of error.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith less than three months till Election Day, Hochul holds a 10-point lead over Blakeman, 49-39%, not crossing the magic 50% mark. In June, among registered voters, Hochul\u2019s lead was twice as large, 52-32%,\u201d Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this point four years ago, August 2022, when Hochul was just finishing her first year as governor, she led her opponent, former Republican Congressman (and current EPA Administrator) Lee Zeldin by 14 points, 53-39 percent, before going on to ultimately win the election by six points, 53-47 percent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The poll noted that 49 percent of respondents gave Hochul an unfavorable rating, while 46 percent gave her a favorable rating.<\/p>\n<p>Blakeman had 33 percent of voters rate him favorably and 26 percent unfavorably, while 40 percent lacked enough knowledge to form an opinion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot surprisingly, both candidates are holding on to their partisan bases, as Hochul leads among Democrats 80-8 percent and Blakeman leads among Republicans 84-9 percent. Likely independent voters favor Blakeman by a narrow five-point margin, 45-40 percent,\u201d Greenberg said. \u201cHochul holds a commanding 64-19 percent lead in New York City, but trails Blakeman in the downstate suburbs by eight points, 49-41 percent. They are running virtually even in upstate, as well as among men and with white voters; Hochul has large leads with women, Latinos and Black voters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Hochul has a 10-point lead, likely voters think she\u2019ll do a better job than Blakeman on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/manchin-shrugs-off-build-back-better-revival-knocks-bidens-plan-to-lower-inflation-with-more-spending\/\" title=\"Manchin Shrugs Off \u2018Build Back Better\u2019 Revival, Knocks Biden\u2019s Plan To Lower Inflation With More Spending\">increasing affordable housing<\/a> by 16 points. That\u2019s the good news for Hochul. The bad news is that voters think she\u2019s better than Blakeman on four other issues \u2014 affordability, energy, safety, and immigrants \u2013 by between only one and seven points,\u201d Greenberg said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile independents give Hochul negative ratings on all four traits, they overwhelmingly say Blakeman is tough and also say he gets things done. Independents are divided on whether Blakeman is honest or in touch; they score him better on both than they do Hochul,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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