Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman challenges Hochul to draw line as DSA pressures her to back Zohran Mamdani tax hike

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman challenged Gov. Kathy Hochul to draw a line in the sand Monday as she faces pressure from Democratic Socialists of America to back Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s proposed tax hikes.

Blakeman, who is considering a run against Hochul in the gubernatorial election next year, argued that raising taxes could drive corporations out of the Empire State and potentially increase costs for consumers and small businesses.

“This is bad for Nassau County, this is bad for Long Island, this is bad for the Metropolitan region, and this is bad for New York State — we are going to fight very hard against it,” Blakeman told reporters in the county Legislative chamber.

“New York is already the highest taxed state in the United States,” he said, adding that New York should not be looking to New Jersey for inspiration on the tax code.

The recently re-elected Republican county executive was joined by officials and business leaders in the city’s neighboring suburb to demand Hochul stop any consideration she may be giving to Mamdani’s plans.

The democratic socialist has pushed for a 2% tax surge on millionaires and he also wants to hike the corporate tax rate from 7.5% to 11.5%, to match the Garden State.

Mamdani’s DSA allies — empowered and gaining mainstream influence after his win in the Big Apple mayoral election this month — have turned the heat up on Hochul, confronting her with “tax the rich” chants at recent appearances.

Hochul — while repeatedly publicly insisting she won’t raise income taxes — has reportedly signaled some openness to hiking the corporate tax rate.

Blakeman said Monday he worried such tax increases would be “trickled-down” to shoppers in the form of price hikes. 

“We are very concerned that this will drive more jobs out of New York State, that this will drive more businesses out of New York State, and that this will drive more residents out of New York state,” he added.