New York Governor 2026: where the candidates stand on data centers

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot, from the New York State Board of Elections' list (opens in a new tab). The officeholder comes first, then the Republican and Democratic nominees together by last name, then everyone else by last name; in each group a candidate with a statement or vote on the record comes first (how the order works). Each has the same space. The list: Amended Certification for the November 3, 2026 General Election (New York State Board of Elections; PDF accessible-2026-general-ballot-certification-10.7.2026.pdf, 136 pages, linked from https://elections.ny.gov/ballot-certifications-elections) (October 7, 2026 ("Dated: October 7, 2026"; the version history runs from the original of September 2, 2026)).

Checked October 20, 2026 · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections

More on New York: the state page · its laws and bills on data centers · its leaders

The candidates

Kathy Hochul

Democratic, Working Families · In office

Of 11 statements on the record, 3 raised concerns about data centers and 8 carry no label.

What they said

0 3 0

What they did

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

11 statements · 0 votes on the record

Photo: KC Kratt, CC BY SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.

Kathy Hochul's page · In their own words
Bruce A. Blakeman

Republican, Conservative, Vote Affordable

Bruce Blakeman opposes Governor Hochul's moratorium on data centers and says she is impeding an economic boom

Their newest statement on the record, October 8, 2026, Gothamist (opens in a new tab).

What they said

2 statements on the record

What they did

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

2 statements · 0 votes on the record

Bruce A. Blakeman's page · In their own words

Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.

In their own words

Where does Kathy Hochul stand on data centers?

Of 11 statements on the record, 3 raised concerns about data centers and 8 carry no label.

Statements 11 statements

October 8, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul expressed concerns that data centers drive up energy prices while gulping down massive supplies of water

Gothamist (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
October 7, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul said communities should ask for a million dollars per megawatt for data center development

The Poughkeepsie Journal (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
October 7, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul visited Fishkill Farms on Tuesday with Representatives Ocasio Cortez and Ryan to discuss impacts of hyperscale data centers on farming communities in Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley Press (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
October 7, 2026 · paraphrased

Hochul said she is working on a strong framework to regulate data centers after the one year moratorium ends, suggesting data center companies should pay $1 million per megawatt to communities where they plan to build.

WAMC (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
September 30, 2026 · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order creating a moratorium on data centers

wcax.com (opens in a new tab) · [Archived Copy] (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
September 15, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul recommended requiring data center developers to invest at least $1 million per megawatt of electricity demand in local communities

ua.news (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
September 15, 2026 · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

Governor Kathy Hochul in New York called for pause to new data center construction

The New Republic (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
July 15, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor said she will require future data centers to supply their own power or pay premium to tap into state grid

WWNY (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
July 14, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul opposes any tax subsidies for AI data centers

CBS News (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
July 14, 2026 · paraphrased

Governor Hochul stated that hyperscale AI data centers consume enormous amounts of power, threatening to outpace the grid's capacity and driving up costs for local ratepayers

CNBC (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
July 14, 2026 · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

New York requires data centers to produce their own energy or pay premium for accessing state grid

CBS News (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Bruce A. Blakeman stand on data centers?

Bruce A. Blakeman has 2 statements on data centers on the record.

Statements 2 statements

October 8, 2026 · paraphrased

Bruce Blakeman opposes Governor Hochul's moratorium on data centers and says she is impeding an economic boom

Gothamist (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources
September 18, 2026 · paraphrased

Bruce Blakeman, Republican gubernatorial candidate, said data centers are the future of the economy and water and energy issues can be solved

FOX One (opens in a new tab) · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Candidates and their order come from the New York State Board of Elections' list (opens in a new tab), verified October 9, 2026. Every candidate, by state · How the record reads leaders.

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Every race in New York, and where each candidate stands

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