Trump and Mamdani energize governor's race, but strate­gists see an edge for Hochul – Spectrum News

Trump and Mamdani energize governor’s race, but strate­gists see an edge for Hochul  Spectrum News

For months, the race has been expected to hinge in part on the influence of Trump and Mamdani on their respective candidates. With Election Day less than a month away, two of the nation’s most polarizing political figures are playing increasingly prominent roles in New York’s race for governor. President Donald Trump appeared alongside Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman in Syracuse on Friday, marking one of the most notable moments of the campaign so far and raising questions about whether an association with the unpopular president could ultimately help or hurt Blakeman in New York. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is preparing to campaign for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has found ways to distance herself from the mayor and occasionally rebuke him while maintaining his support and partnering with him on several fronts.

For months, the race has been expected to hinge in part on the influence of Trump and Mamdani on their respective candidates. Both have generated significant enthusiasm among their supporters, along with intense opposition from their detractors. But political strategists say one factor that may not have been anticipated by Republicans is a political honeymoon for Mamdani that has yet to evaporate, potentially giving Hochul an advantage as she seeks another term amid slumping approval ratings for the president especially in New York. That doesn’t