Knicks Owner Dolan Shifts Campaign Funds From Hochul to Blakeman in NY Governor Race
A major donor's switch from an incumbent Democrat to a Republican challenger signals that the 2026 New York gubernatorial race may draw significant private funding from business figures outside...
James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks and chief executive of Madison Square Garden Sports, has directed campaign contributions toward Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman after previously donating to incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, according to a report published by Politico. The specific dollar amounts of Dolan's contributions to both Hochul's past campaigns and Blakeman's current campaign were detailed in that Politico report; the underlying filings are recorded with the New York State Board of Elections, which maintains public disclosure records for all state-level contributions. Dolan hosted both President Donald Trump and Blakeman in his private box during the Knicks' 2025 championship run, an association noted by Politico as context for the funding shift.
Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, is seeking the Republican nomination for the 2026 New York governor's race against Hochul, who is seeking reelection. New York State Board of Elections filings are the authoritative source for verifying the precise amounts, dates, and recipient committees associated with any contributions attributed to Dolan. As of the publication date of this article, the full itemized contribution history for the 2026 cycle remains subject to update as new disclosure deadlines pass.
Dolan's prior financial support for Hochul's campaigns, as cited by Politico, would also be verifiable through New York State Board of Elections records for the relevant prior election cycles. Campaign finance records would show whether Dolan gave directly to candidate committees, party committees, or both, and in what amounts. Those distinctions matter for understanding the full scope of any donor's historical support.
What remains unknown is the total dollar amount Dolan has committed to Blakeman's 2026 campaign, whether any contributions passed through political action committees or party transfers rather than direct candidate committees, and whether Hochul's campaign has identified alternative donors to offset any gap. The New York State Board of Elections campaign finance database, updated on a rolling disclosure schedule, would provide answers to each of those questions as filings become public.