2026 New York gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2026 New York gubernatorial election
Country:	New York
Type:	gubernatorial
Ongoing:	yes
Previous Election:	2022 New York gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2022
Next Election:	2030 New York gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2030
Election Date:	November 3, 2026
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Governor
Before Election:	Kathy Hochul
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2026 New York gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of New York. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul took office on August 24, 2021, upon the resignation of Andrew Cuomo, and was elected to a full term in her own right in 2022 with 53.2% of the vote, the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Kathy Hochul, incumbent governor (2021–present)^[1]

Potential

• Alvin Bragg, New York County District Attorney (2022–present)
• Antonio Delgado, Lieutenant Governor of New York (2022–present) and former U.S. Representative from (2019–2022)
• Andrew Cuomo, former governor (2011–2021)^[2]
• Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney (2016–present)
• Letitia James, New York Attorney General (2019–present) and candidate for governor in 2022^{[2] [3]}
• Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative from (2021–present)^{[4] [3]}
• Tom Suozzi, U.S. Representative from (2017–2023, 2024–present) and candidate for governor in 2006 and 2022^[3]
• Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate (2019–present), candidate for governor in 2022, and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018^[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative from (2023–present)^[3]
• Lee Zeldin, former U.S. Representative from (2015–2023) and nominee for governor in 2022^[3]

Potential

• Rob Astorino, former Westchester County Executive (2010–2017), nominee for governor in 2014, and candidate in 2022^[3]
• Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive (2022–present)^[3]
• Steven McLaughlin, Rensselaer County Executive (2018–present)^[3]
• Marc Molinaro, U.S. Representative from (2023–present) and nominee for governor in 2018^[3]

General election

Polling

Kathy Hochul vs. different candidate

Notes and References

1. Web site: Parsnow . Luke . 2024-07-02 . Hochul says she's running for another term as New York governor in 2026 . 2024-08-20 . Spectrum News 1 . en . July 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240708215410/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2024/07/02/hochul-says-she-s-running-for-another-term-as-governor-in-2026 . live .
2. Web site: A NY GOP without McCarthy’s cash. Coltin. Reisman. Ngo. Jeff. Nick. Emily. November 20, 2023. November 20, 2023. Politico. November 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231121000040/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2023/11/20/what-the-ny-gop-will-do-without-mccarthy-cash-00128014. live.
3. News: . July 30, 2024 . Who could run for New York governor in 2026? . July 15, 2024 . Pretsky, Holly . July 31, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731050158/https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2024/07/who-could-run-new-york-governor-2026/398016/ . live .
4. Web site: Nelson. Steven. Ritchie Torres stokes possible NY governor run speculation with vague new X campaign account. New York Post. May 24, 2024. May 26, 2024.