Gov. Hochul, Bruce Blakeman clash on child care, affordability

Both candidates for governor were in New York City on the campaign trail Monday.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman campaigned in separate appearances Sunday, offering sharply different visions for New York as voters prepare for early voting and Election Day. Hochul visited Concourse Village in the Bronx, where she highlighted policies including a ban on cell phones in schools and expanded access to community college and child care. The governor said those priorities are rooted in her own experiences. "I knew what it was like to struggle, not having child care. That's why as governor, when I'm focusing on your family as my fight and we're going to have child care for everybody, this was a personal fight because I knew what it was like not to have it," Hochul said. Meanwhile, Blakeman campaigned in Elmont on Long Island alongside Lee Zeldin, whom Hochul narrowly defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial election. Zeldin later became administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Trump administration. While Hochul did not mention Blakeman during her Bronx appearance, supporters said a major challenge for Democrats in the borough is voter turnout. "I'm counting on all of you," Hochul told attendees.

Up CloseUp Close with Liz Cho airs Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Channel 7, WABC-TV in New York City. Eyewitness News UpClose - 10/18/26Sunday, October 18, 2026 4:01PMNEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- With early voting already underway and Election Day approaching, New York's gubernatorial candidates are making their final pitches to voters. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman appeared on "Up Close" on Sunday, where they outlined their priorities and made the case for why they should lead New York for the next four years. During the interviews, Eyewitness News anchor Mike Marza asked each candidate what they hope to accomplish if elected. Their responses focused on their competing visions for the state's future as the campaign enters its final stretch. Up Close with Liz Cho airs Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Channel 7, WABC-TV in New York City. SUBSCRIBE TO THE UP CLOSE PODCASTDiscover more podcasts from abc7NY hereWATCH: Up Close on our Connected TV apps for Fire, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV. Click here to learn more. RELATED: Watch more episodes of Up CloseCopyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Montreal firefighters responded to a fire at a three-storey building in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood on Monday evening. About 150 firefighters were called to the scene. Firefighters received a call around 9 p.m. about a fire near the intersection of Rue du Frère-André and Rue Coronet. The fire began at the back of the building, which […] The post 150 Montreal firefighters respond to three-alarm blaze in CDN-NDG appeared first on CityNews Montreal .

A United Conservative Party politician who promoted a petition pushing for a referendum on separation says he will not seek re-election. Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan said in a statement released Monday evening that he sought to “speak the truth as best as I understand it” because his “duty is to seek freedom and prosperity for Alberta.”Stephan, who served as parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs in Premier Danielle Smith’s government, promoted a petition earlier this year that pushed for a referendum on separation. Albertans overwhelmingly rejected the idea of holding a formal referendum on separation Monday, with around 76 per cent voting to remain part of Canada. “Canada could be the most free and prosperous nation on earth, but it is not,” Stephan said in his statement, which cited Texas as having a larger gross domestic product than Canada. Story continues below advertisement