Overview
- The ruling, which came Tuesday, vacates the Public Campaign Finance Board’s March 31 disqualification and orders a one-week window to fix the paperwork.
- The court said the board acted arbitrarily by failing to provide a joint form, update training materials, or notify the campaign that its filing was incomplete.
- The board had voted 4-3 along party lines to deem Bruce Blakeman and running mate Todd Hood ineligible because Hood did not file his own certification.
- If he cures the defect, Blakeman could receive up to $3.5 million that matches the first $250 of small donations at 6-to-1, a boost as Gov. Kathy Hochul skips the program and holds roughly $20 million.
- Democratic board members signaled a likely appeal and said the ruling does not confirm compliance, underscoring early implementation strains in New York’s revamped public financing system.