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Debra Messing endorses Republican Bruce Blakeman for New York governor

Actress Debra Messing, a past Democratic supporter, backed Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman over Gov. Kathy Hochul, citing affordability and New York City's decline. Both outlets covering it are right-leaning.

2 outlets · 0L · 0C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: New York Post
Image: Fox News

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The story, neutrally told

Right · 2Actress Debra Messing, star of "Will & Grace", has endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman for New York governor rather than Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. Right · 2She made the remarks to Blakeman at a recent Manhattan fundraiser for his campaign hosted by dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot, according to the New York Post; Fox News said the comments came in a video shared on Instagram. Right · 1Messing told Blakeman, "I am so grateful you are running. You are what we need more than anything," and called him "the affordable campaign, candidate."

Right · 2She said the city's decline over the past four years had been "exponential and devastating" economically and socially, that businesses had left, and that it was "not the city I love anymore". Right · 2Messing also said New Yorkers need lower utility bills, and she alluded to congestion pricing, the $9 toll to enter Manhattan; she said it is "just too expensive to live in New York City" and that she was glad affordability was at the top of Blakeman's mind. Right · 2Both outlets describe the move as a shift: Messing backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Cynthia Nixon's 2018 run for governor, and has clashed with President Donald Trump, who supports Blakeman.

Right · 1The New York Post adds that Messing, who is Jewish, has spoken out over Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack, endorsed Andrew Cuomo against Zohran Mamdani in the mayoral race, and drew criticism in 2019 for asking on X for a list of attendees at a Trump fundraiser. Right · 2Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and Republican nominee, thanked Messing for her "courage to speak out" and said she is trying "to save New York and to make sure it's safe for Jewish people". Right · 2Fox News said it asked Messing's representative for comment, and no response is reported. The Post says Blakeman has promised, if elected in November, to eliminate state income tax on the first $50,000 for single filers and the first $100,000 for married couples.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right2 outlets

Framing
Both right-leaning outlets present the endorsement as a striking defection by a Democratic-aligned, anti-Trump celebrity, led by her criticism of New York's decline.
Emphasis
Messing's past Democratic ties, her quotes on affordability and decline, and (in the Post) her views on Israel, Mamdani and Blakeman's tax plan.
Leaves out or plays down
No Democratic or Hochul campaign response; no reaction from Messing beyond the recorded remarks. Neither examines her claims about decline or congestion pricing.
Charged language
“Enter stage right.”“snubbing”“ditches”“far-left actress”“sounds alarm”
For example
“Star Dem-backer Debra Messing endorses GOP’s Bruce Blakeman for NY governor: ‘What we need’” — New York Post
“Debra Messing ditches Democrat for Trump-backed Republican as she sounds alarm over New York” — Fox News