The chair of the Conservative Party of New York State denounced Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address, accusing the governor of worsening affordability and calling on voters to support a conservative alternative in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Hochul delivered her annual State of the State address on January 13, speaking at length about her administration’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session, with a strong focus on affordability, public safety, housing, and cost-of-living pressures facing New Yorkers. In her remarks, Hochul repeatedly framed her administration as a bulwark against federal policy decisions, criticizing President Donald Trump, his administration’s immigration enforcement actions, and proposed federal tariff increases that she said would raise costs for state residents.
In conjunction with the address, Hochul’s office also released a 160-page policy book expanding on more than 100 proposed initiatives across eleven categories. Those proposals include plans related to child care access, housing construction, energy policy, infrastructure investment, regulatory reform, and healthcare workforce development.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Conservative Party of New York State, Chair Gerard Kassar called Hochul’s speech “a cynical farce,” arguing that her policy proposals were “unaffordable and unsustainable” and would deepen state budget deficits. He claimed the governor’s agenda would increase financial pressure on New Yorkers through higher taxes, fees, tolls, and energy-related costs, despite her repeated assertions that taxes would not be raised.
Kassar singled out Hochul’s energy policies as particularly harmful, arguing that they have driven up utility costs statewide. He said the policies were forcing some seniors to “choose between heat and food,” as well as that they were already being felt by homeowners and landlords across New York.
“This is an extremely weak governor incapable of standing up to left-wing radicals taking over the Democrat Party in New York State,” Kassar said in the statement. “Mrs. Hochul’s economic prescriptions are exactly wrong for a state whose economy has been atrophying for a generation.”
Kassar called for voters to reject Hochul in the 2026 gubernatorial election and support Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whom he personally endorsed earlier this month in his capacity as chair of the State Conservative Party. He further described New York as a “non-competitive tax hell” and said the party was “praying for wisdom in the voting booth” ahead of the general election.
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