The first and only debate in the race for New York governor felt similar to a tennis match for much of the 60 minutes. There was no shouting and little in terms of refereeing as the candidates volleyed back and forth from their podiums Tuesday night, with each serving up their best attack lines. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blamed Gov. Kathy Hochul for sky-high costs of seemingly everything. Hochul, meanwhile, tied Blakeman to President Donald Trump and to ICE. A tense opening segment focused on the ICE shooting in the Bronx on Thursday. “ICE is out of control. It’s out of control in Nassau County,” said Hochul, a Democrat. “The reason that happened is because of you, Kathy Hochul, and your immigration policies,” Blakeman countered. “Kathy Hochul appealed to ICE to let this criminal out. The question is: What was this guy doing in New York in the first place? It’s because Kathy Hochul has made us a sanctuary state.” Hochul responded by saying that Blakeman, a Republican, has refused to condemn what ICE did. “So he basically says in the state of New York, he’d be fine if ICE agents shoot into cars,” the governor said. Blakeman called the man shot, 25-year-old Oscar Belgal, a “gangbanger,” and questioned why Hochul defended him. “I said New York is not a sanctuary for criminals,” the governor replied. The political rivals battled over rising costs, particularly gasoline and energy, which Hochul blamed on the war with Iran and President Trump. “Kathy, Donald Trump didn’t raise utility bills 48 times. You did,” said Blakeman. Both candidates touted their records on crime. Hochul said New York state’s crime rates are at the lowest in modern history, while Blakeman cited a report that named Nassau County as the safest in America — which Hochul credited Blakeman’s predecessor for achieving. “You take credit for the sun rising in the morning and setting at night,” Hochul said. Blakeman took some steps to distance himself from President Trump, whose approval rating remains below 40% nationwide. The GOP candidate labeled himself as pro-choice, in contrast to the president’s pro-life stance. But Hochul continued to connect the two. “Just four days ago, you stood on a stage screaming at the top of your lungs ‘We love Donald Trump!'” Hochul said. “Which is it that makes him so great? The high utility costs? Is it his unfettered use of ICE to terrorize New Yorkers?” Blakeman did not deny that Trump has endorsed him, calling the president a “friend.” But he contended that he has gotten support from across the political aisle as well. “So has Bonnie Lautenberg, a liberal Democrat whose husband served in the Senate and was a pillar of the Democratic party,” Blakeman noted. “Actor Debra Messing, who is liberal Democrat, who supports me because she trusts me to make safer communities and improve the quality of life here in New York.” Hochul appeared to shrug off the endorsements her opponent listed, saying “you got two votes, good for you.” It was not until later moments of the debate when Blakeman tied the governor to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who is a frequent subject of conservative attacks. Blakeman brings up Mamdani very consistently on the campaign trail. “You talk about Donald Trump, Donald Trump. That’s all you can talk about because you have a record of failure and misery for the people who live in this state,” said Blakeman, to which Hochul said she does not “wrap myself in the shroud of Donald Trump the way you did.” Blakeman responded, “No, you wrap it in Zohran Mamdani.” “Who Donald Trump thinks is a great mayor,” Hochul answered. The most recent polls in the race for governor have Hochul ahead of Blakeman by about nine to eleven points. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting held from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1. ...read more read less