Overview

• Gov. Kathy Hochul raised $11.8 million in the first half of 2025, directing over $4 million to her reelection campaign and $7 million to the state Democratic committee.
• Rep. Elise Stefanik broke state Republican records with a $4 million second-quarter haul, ending June with $11 million cash on hand for her expected campaign launch.
• Hochul’s campaign now has $17.5 million available versus Stefanik’s $11 million, underscoring the incumbent’s financial advantage.
• A Siena College poll shows Hochul leading Stefanik, Mike Lawler and Bruce Blakeman by at least 20 points even as 55% of voters say they want a new governor.
• Other GOP figures are weighing bids, while progressive Democrats are urging Hochul to endorse socialist Zohran Mamdani after his New York City mayoral primary victory.