Hochul ‘Busted’ After She Admits Taking Campaign Contributions that Violated Her Own Executive Order: NY ‘Run in Backrooms’

Hochul ‘busted’ after she admits taking campaign contributions that violated her own executive order: NY ‘run in backrooms’

Gov. Kathy Hochul is returning roughly $70,000 after facing heat for accepting illegal campaign funds from people on state panels -- contributions her GOP adversary, Elise Stefanik, slammed as "pay-to-play."

Kathy Hochul Caught in ‘Pay-to-Play’ Scandal Over Illegal Campaign Donations - Real News Now

Governor Kathy Hochul is under fire after admitting her campaign accepted nearly $70,000 in donations from individuals serving on state boards — a clear violation of an executive order she herself reissued in 2021. The money came from at least eight individuals who serve on advisory panels or policymaking boards. Her campaign confirmed to reporters that the funds were being returned after the donations were exposed by Gothamist. Under Executive …

Hochul returns at least $72,500 in prohibited campaign donations

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D-NY) campaign returned at least $72,500 in prohibited donations from political appointees after a media publication raised questions about the funds. Gothamist reported the donations, which are a drop in the bucket compared to the $17.5 million she has on hand as of July. Hochul raised $4.3 million in the first six months of 2025. The New York governor received the donations from benefactors after she placed them in key pos…

NY Gov. Hochul accepted — and is now refunding — thousands in donations from appointees

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is seen in this Oct. 24, 2025, file photo when she visited Rochester to highlight the state’s investment of $24 million to modernize law enforcement technology and equipment across Monroe County’s police departments and sheriffs office. (Darren McGee / Gov. Kathy Hochul's office )Gov. Kathy Hochul’s massive campaign war chest is a source of political strength.But after a Democratic primary rival questioned some of the …