Hochul Rejected Mamdani's Tax Hikes Earlier. A Post Headline Now Raises a Question

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gave Mayor Zohran Mamdani a short answer on his plan to tax the wealthy and corporations: she was not interested. That position is on the record from an interview with NBC New York in early 2026.

A later New York Post story, dated Oct. 28 by its web address, appears to concern whether Hochul will commit to keeping state taxes flat. Patriot Daily Wire has not been able to read that story. All we have is its headline and link, so what the governor was asked, what she said, and how she said it are unconfirmed.

What can be said is limited, but it matters. The mayor has proposed taxing high earners and corporations to close a large budget gap, and the governor has said she is not on board. Whether anything has changed since then has not been established.

What Hochul Told NBC

The earlier position is documented. In an interview with reporter Melissa Russo, NBC New York reported that Hochul said she was not interested in raising taxes on the wealthy or on corporations, even after Mamdani held a press conference laying out the city's deficit.

Pressed on whether she would agree to the tax increases, Hochul answered:

"I've said they're not."

The research notes describe NBC's wording as saying she would never agree, which is firmer than what the Post's headline implies. We could not verify that NBC phrasing directly, and the gap between the two accounts, if it exists, is the reason the Post story deserves a close read once it can be confirmed.

The Mayor's $12 Billion Problem

Mamdani said New York City faces a $12 billion deficit. NBC reported that he wants to tax the wealthy and corporations to close the gap.

Hochul's answer, as NBC reported it, was that she was not interested, and that held even after his press conference on the deficit. Beyond that, the notes do not say how the mayor would handle the shortfall if the state does not go along, and we are not going to guess.

A Governor Running in a Crowded Year

NBC also described the political setting for Hochul's answers. She faces re-election challenges from Republican Bruce Blakeman and, in the Democratic primary, from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. The same interview touched on her search for a running mate, and NBC noted she had also dealt with concerns over ICE enforcement and a massive winter storm that year.

The timing is an open question. The NBC interview dates to early 2026, while the Post link is dated Oct. 28, 2026. We have not confirmed that the Post date is correct or where the primary contest stands relative to it.

We have also not seen a statement from the governor's office or a transcript of the event where she was asked. Without those, it is not known whether she gave any context that would explain or narrow what the Post headline suggests.

What Comes Next

The first step is confirming what the Post actually reported and what Hochul actually said. Her own office, a transcript of the exchange, and statements from the mayor would all help settle it. Until then, the only firm position on the record is the one she gave NBC New York: she was not interested in raising those taxes.