New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address in Albany outlined a sweeping 2026 agenda, emphasizing affordability, child care, education, energy, and public safety. Proposals included boosting child care subsidies and pre-kindergarten access, freezing state college tuition, accelerating affordable housing, capping taxes on tips, and introducing a “back to basics” math plan. Hochul also called for social media and AI protections for children, teen mental health training, restrictions on 3D-printed guns, and limits on protests near religious and healthcare sites. Additional initiatives focused on nuclear power expansion, flood and coastal erosion mitigation, a downstate computer chip facility, electric vehicle infrastructure, and ensuring data centers pay more toward electricity costs. Public safety measures included combating staged car accidents, deepfakes, speeders, and fraud on food benefit cards.

Hochul faced immediate criticism from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, who described her address as “unbelievable” and likened it to a “Saturday Night Live skit.” Blakeman accused Hochul of failing to act on child care, proposed a larger tax credit plan, and condemned her nearly $5 billion spending plan for the city’s migrant crisis. Hochul’s campaign responded that the Governor remains committed to lowering costs, protecting children, and investing in public safety.

The two leaders diverge sharply on immigration but found common ground on protest limits near houses of worship. Blakeman enacted Nassau’s “Religious Safety Act,” while Hochul is proposing a statewide 25-foot buffer. Hochul also supports legislation allowing New Yorkers to sue federal officers for civil rights violations, in response to recent ICE detentions, which Blakeman dismissed as isolated incidents.

Ahead of the speech, Hochul met with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine to discuss housing and sewer infrastructure needs, including the former Pilgrim State property, known as Heartland Town Square. While sewers were not directly mentioned in the speech, a priorities book outlined a new Smart Growth Water Grant Program to support infrastructure projects, which Romaine called “very hopeful” for Suffolk’s development.

The Long Island reception drew over 300 political leaders, state agency commissioners, and energy executives, highlighting the region’s influence in statewide budget and infrastructure priorities.

Meanwhile, East Hampton Democrats are preparing for a contested supervisor race. Incumbent Kathee Burke-Gonzalez received official backing from Suffolk County Democratic Committee chair Rich Schaffer, but challenger Jerry Larsen announced plans to force a primary, criticizing what he described as a “Democratic political machine” and pointing to alleged issues with emergency services, building management, and a senior center renovation. Burke-Gonzalez, elected last year, must run again in 2026 for a two-year term, with Larsen pledging to resign as village mayor if successful.