SSP Video Vault: Former Suffolk County Executive Breaks Down Governor's Race

Former Suffolk County Executive and New York State Assemblyman Steve Levy has joined the South Shore Press team, bringing decades of political experience and insight to readers across Long Island and New York State.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Managing Editor Stefan Mychajliw, Levy offered his assessment of the heated governor's race between Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, explaining why he believes an upset could be brewing despite the political odds.

MYCHAJLIW: Steve, you've been around politics a long time. What's your assessment of the governor's race?

LEVY: It's a tough year for Republicans overall. But we've got a Democratic governor who's underwater, very ineffective, and a Republican challenger who's very dynamic. People are underestimating what the new public financing system has done. It was implemented by Democrats to help Democrats, but it's actually helping Bruce Blakeman. He's gotten those funds and he's all over TV. He's got a puncher's chance here.

MYCHAJLIW: I covered George Pataki's stunning 1994 upset over Mario Cuomo. Could we see history repeat itself?

LEVY: It's somewhat of an anti-incumbency year. People are mad at everyone. They're mad about affordability problems here in New York. Blakeman's been hammering this home. Trump isn't responsible for New York having electric rates 70% higher than the national average or our property taxes being the highest in the nation. That's Democratic control in New York.

MYCHAJLIW: How important are Long Island and upstate voters in overcoming Hochul's New York City advantage?

LEVY: Lee Zeldin came within six points of beating Hochul four years ago. He got about 30% of the city vote. Blakeman says if he gets 34%, there's a real chance. Republican machines in Nassau and Suffolk can turn out extra votes. Build that Long Island cushion, perform well upstate, get 34% in the city, and suddenly you're talking 50-50.

MYCHAJLIW: Could Hochul's unpopularity drive voters toward Blakeman even if they don't know him well?

LEVY: She doesn't have this core welling of support because she has no political core herself. She started as a moderate-to-conservative county clerk upstate, opposing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and defending gun rights. Now she's completely flipped. She's taxing us up the wazoo, and her climate policies have driven up electric costs. She's a chameleon. She flips on a dime.

MYCHAJLIW: And that creates an opening?

LEVY: She doesn't garner that strong support that translates into big, passionate turnout. That's why Blakeman has a shot.