NY GOP Claims Hochul Will Raise Taxes After Election, Like With Congestion Pricing

Republican officials say Hochul cannot be trusted to keep her word on taxes, citing her reversal on congestion pricing after the 2024 election.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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New York Republican officials are accusing Governor Kathy Hochul of planning to raise taxes on New Yorkers after the November 2026 election, similar to how she 'paused' and then later reinstated congestion pricing in New York City after the 2024 election cycle. They claim Hochul cannot be trusted to keep her word on taxes.

Why it matters

Hochul's potential tax hikes after the election would impact the financial burden on New York residents, especially the middle class, at a time when affordability is a major concern. The accusations also highlight the partisan divide and mistrust between Republicans and Democrats in New York politics.

The details

Republican elected officials, including gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, claim Hochul will raise taxes on the middle class through higher utility bills, commuter costs, and hidden fees, just as she did with congestion pricing. They say Hochul 'pulled the wool over the eyes of taxpayers' by pausing congestion pricing before the 2024 election, only to reinstate it afterwards.

  • Congestion pricing was scheduled to be implemented in June 2024, but Hochul paused it before the election.
  • Hochul then reinstated congestion pricing in November 2024, after the election.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The Democratic Governor of New York who is seeking re-election in 2026.

Bruce Blakeman

The Republican nominee for Governor of New York.

Michael Tannousis

A Republican Assemblyman and the Staten Island Republican Party chairman.

Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic Mayor of New York City who has called for raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

Joann Ariola

A Republican Councilwoman in Queens.

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What they’re saying

“Once elected Hochul did a U Turn on congestion pricing and she will do the same by raising taxes on not just millionaires but all middle class families through higher utility bills, commuter costs and hidden fees.”

— Bruce Blakeman, GOP gubernatorial nominee (nypost.com)

“Last year, Governor Hochul pulled the wool over the eyes of taxpayers by first pausing congestion pricing and then resuming it after Election Day. There is no reason to believe that she won't do the same with raising taxes after November.”

— Michael Tannousis, Assemblyman and Staten Island Republican Party chairman (nypost.com)

“Hochul did it with congestion pricing. She'll do it with taxes.”

— Joann Ariola, Queens GOP Councilwoman (nypost.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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