Gov. Kathy Hochul has revealed her biggest campaign donors, including comedian Jerry Seinfeld and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Hochul, who is running for New York governor in 2022, released disclosure forms this week showing she’s raised more than $21 million since taking office in August. Her fundraising total of $21.9 million smashed the previous record for any single filing period in state history, surpassing the $12.8 million raised by former Gov. George Pataki in 2002, and she has $21.3 million remaining on hand as she seeks a full term in office.
According to Politico, Hochul received the majority of her money from donors who gave $10,000 or more, including 46 contributors who gave the maximum allowable amount of $69,700. Those top donors include former Google CEO Eric Schmidt; LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman; the Democratic Governors Association, which endorsed Hochul; a variety of New York City real estate developers; and Alexandra Cohen, whose husband Steve is a hedge fund manager and the owner of the Mets; Steve Cohen gave slightly less than the max at $69,036.
WIVB reports Seinfeld, a registered Democrat, gave Hochul $50,000. The former “Seinfeld” and “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” star does not have any other individual contributions listed on the state or federal campaign finance websites.
Other notable donations included $75,000 combined from fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg and her husband, former Twentieth Century Fox CEO Barry Diller; $69,700 from Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross; $100,000 combined from former Empire State Development CEO Howard Zemsky and his wife; and $50,000 each from New York Islanders owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin.
Hochul, a Syracuse University alumna and Buffalo native, was former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s lieutenant governor and took the state’s highest office when he resigned in August. Her competition in June’s Democratic primary election includes Jumaane Williams, a citizen ombudsman in his elected office of New York City Public Advocate; and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who investigated the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, dropped out to focus on re-election as AG, and former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday he also won’t be running.
Republican candidates in the New York gubernatorial race include U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island; former Westchester County executive Rob Astorino; Andrew Giuliani, the son of Rudy Giuliani; and Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli.