New York Democrats criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman on Saturday over what the party called his failure to condemn President Donald Trump’s defense of an attack ad in Ohio’s governor’s race.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Blakeman’s Democratic opponent, had called the ad an “abhorrent attack” in an Oct. 21 post supporting Ohio Democrat Amy Acton. The ad, produced by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, features Acton’s estranged mother criticizing her daughter.
The New York State Democratic Committee’s criticism rested on Blakeman’s past statements of loyalty to Trump. The party did not cite a statement from Blakeman endorsing the Ohio ad.
Trump defends ad as Republicans object
Trump reaffirmed his support Friday when reporters asked about the ad and Acton’s account of childhood sexual abuse, NBC News reported. Acton has said her late stepfather abused her and that she has not spoken to her mother in nearly 50 years.
Ramaswamy defended the spot Friday, saying it concerned lying rather than childhood abuse. His campaign told NBC News it planned to spend $4 million airing the ad.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called for its removal but continued to support Ramaswamy. Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Rep. Nancy Mace also criticized the ad, while Vice President JD Vance defended it, according to NBC News.
Hochul’s Oct. 21 statement described Acton as a survivor of physical and sexual abuse and praised her public service in Ohio. Hochul urged voters to reject Ramaswamy on Nov. 3.
Democrats point to Blakeman’s Trump ties
The New York party contrasted Hochul’s condemnation with Blakeman’s repeated public support for Trump, citing interviews, videos and social media posts in which he described the president as a friend and pledged loyalty.
In a December 2025 interview, Blakeman told Spectrum News: “I never disagree with my wife in public, and I'll never disagree with the president in public.”
Blakeman made that statement while preparing to challenge Hochul, months before the Ohio ad controversy. In the same interview, he argued that his record as Nassau County executive would help him defeat her, criticizing New York’s taxes and regulations.
File photo of Bruce Blakeman.
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