Debra Messing, an actress known for her Democratic leanings, has surprisingly endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman for New York governor over incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul. At a Manhattan fundraiser hosted by dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot, Messing praised Blakeman’s stance on affordability issues in New York City and criticized the city's current conditions. She highlighted concerns about economic decline and high living costs, positioning Blakeman as an affordable candidate who understands these challenges.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Anti-Trump actress Debra Messing has endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman for New York governor over incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul. This shift comes after Messing was previously critical of Blakeman’s support as a staunch Trump ally and was accused of McCarthyism in 2019. During a Manhattan fundraiser, Messing praised Blakeman's stance on Israel and criticized the city's decline under Hochul's leadership, citing economic and social issues. She stated, "You are what we need more than anything," highlighting her belief that Blakeman is essential to address current challenges in New York City.
Written for “Political Endorsement Surprise” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning: leans strongly right for article 56149 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-04
Anti-Trump “Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing is snubbing Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and instead backing Republican Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign.
asserted
Messing → snub → campaign
It’s quite a sea change for Messing, who once stumped for Hillary Clinton for president and donated to far-left actress Cynthia Nixon’s campaign for governor in 2018 and has been, at least until recently, a staunch critic of Blakeman-boosting President Trump.
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who → ’ → Trump
But Brooklyn-native Messing, who even appears in a video with Blakeman, has complained about what she claims is a decline in her hometown’s conditions.
“I am
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I → appear → conditions
grateful you are running
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you → run → ?
You are what we need more than anything,” she told Blakeman during a recent Manhattan fundraiser for the candidate hosted by dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot.
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she → need → Zuckerbrot
And obviously, we’ve lost so much business here.
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we → lose → business
People are leaving,” said Messing, an NYU alum.
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Messing → leave → ?
Messing called the Big Apple the “city I love” but said, “It’s not the city I love anymore.”
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I → call → Apple
She looked at Blakeman and said, “I believe in all my heart that you are the answer.
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you → look → heart
“People are just really struggling.
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People → struggle → ?
They need their utilities to be lower,” Messing said.
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Messing → need → ?
The actress also alluded to the $9 congestion pricing toll to enter Manhattan.
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actress → allude → Manhattan
“It’s just too expensive to live in New York City, and I love the fact that is at the top of your mind,” Messing told the Republican candidate.
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Messing → ’ → candidate
Messing, who is Jewish, has publicly expressed her outrage over Hamas’s murderous Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
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who → express → Israel
The actress put up signs in Manhattan bearing the names and information of hostages being held by the Palestinian terrorists and begged “far-left students” to “leave the posters up” amid some being torn down.
She also is no fan of left-wing anti-Israel Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
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She → put → Mamdani
Messing endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor in his failed bid against Mamdani.
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Messing → endorse → Mamdani
She has blasted Mamdani as an “American-hating jihadist,” nicknaming him “Osama bin Mamdani.”
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She → blast → him
Blakeman meanwhile is a staunch supporter of Israel, while Hochul has taken heat for some of her alleged wishy-washy stances on Jewish issues.
But Messing’s endorsement of Blakeman is still quite a turnabout after she drew backlash and was accused of McCarthyism for wanting to shame donors who attended a Beverly Hills fundraiser for Republican Trump in 2019.
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who → take → 2019
The public has a right to know,” Messing said on X at the time.
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Messing → have → time
Blakeman, in response to her support of his gubernatorial bid, thanked the “iconic” Messing “for your courage to speak out.
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Blakeman → thank → courage
“She is trying as hard as she can to save New York and to make sure it’s safe for Jewish people who live in this community and in this state,” he said.
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he → try → state
Last week, the Nassau County executive vowed that if elected in November, he’d eliminate taxes on the first $50,000 of income for single filers and on the first $100,000 for married couples.
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he → vow → couples
The average income for married couples in 45 of New York’s 62 counties is under $100,000, meaning many of the disaffected rural communities that feel especially abandoned by Albany would see a massive lift, according to his plan.
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that → mean → plan
The Aporia
