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By: Noam Tchotchke
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman took his gubernatorial campaign directly to some of New York’s most influential donors this week, courting deep-pocketed business leaders and political power players at a high-profile Hamptons breakfast as he laid out an aggressive agenda for the 2026 governor’s race, according to the New York Post.
The event, held at the popular Southampton hotspot 75 Main, drew more than 80 CEOs, philanthropists, financiers and political insiders for one of billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis’ closely watched power breakfasts. As the New York Post reported, the gathering offered Blakeman a prime platform to pitch his vision for New York while building momentum among donors expected to play a major role in the upcoming Republican primary battle.
According to the New York Post, Blakeman used his roughly 20-minute address to hammer several issues that have become central to his campaign message, including promises to crack down on illegal immigration, reduce utility costs and reverse what he described as Albany’s failed progressive policies.
But it was Blakeman’s sharp criticism of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed pied-à-terre tax — along with similar tax ideas backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani — that reportedly generated the loudest applause from the crowd, the New York Post noted. The controversial proposal would impose additional taxes on second homes owned by non-residents, particularly luxury condos and co-ops.
The New York Post reported that the issue resonated strongly with many in attendance, given that a large number of Hamptons homeowners own second properties in New York City and fear the measure could trigger broader economic fallout in the city’s already fragile real estate market. Critics have warned the tax could discourage investment and depress property values.
“Everybody out there in the Hamptons has a second house,” Catsimatidis told the New York Post, explaining why Blakeman’s opposition to the tax struck a chord with the crowd. The billionaire media and supermarket mogul said many wealthy New Yorkers are increasingly worried about policies they believe punish investment and drive residents out of the state.
The New York Post also reported that Blakeman pledged to block efforts to dramatically raise inheritance taxes, another proposal that has alarmed many New Yorkers concerned about preserving family wealth and passing assets to future generations.
The event drew a who’s who of New York’s business and political establishment, including top real estate executives, financiers and longtime Republican donors. According to the New York Post, attendees left energized by Blakeman’s message, with some political insiders predicting his campaign could raise millions of dollars through upcoming fundraising events sparked by the breakfast gathering.
Blakeman’s appearance marks a significant step as he works to establish himself as a serious contender against Hochul. The New York Post reported that Catsimatidis, who has hosted numerous prominent Democrats and Republicans at similar breakfasts, is expected to welcome Hochul herself to a future event later this summer.
