Madison Square Garden’s James Dolan Is Spending Big on New York’s Governor Race
Madison Square Garden executive James Dolan is making significant financial contributions to the New York gubernatorial campaign of Bruce Blakeman. The move is notable given Dolan's past political shifts and the alignment of his business interests with Blakeman's policy platform.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing influence of corporate magnates in state-level politics and the intersection of private business interests with political campaign financing.
Dolan’s support of Blakeman, the executive of suburban Nassau County, could be seen as something of a counterintuitive move in a state long run by Democrats, and in a year when political surveys are picking up indications of a blue wave. He’s down by nine points or more in most polls.
Blakeman, however, backs data centers, AI deepfakes, Flock surveillance, ICE, private militias, and president Donald Trump. All of which makes him at least somewhat simpatico with Dolan, the Trump-allied magnate operating the sports world’s best-known surveillance state. Dolan has long been a mercurial presence in the political game, and in fact, as Politico notes, he supported Blakeman’s opponent, Governor Kathy Hochul, during the last election. Dolan’s sheer amount of spending in the race could also benefit him, even if his preferred candidate loses.
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