Dolan family and MSG entities channel millions into Blakeman campaign
WIRED’s review of public records identifies $108,000 in direct donations from the Dolan family and $2 million from Madison Square Garden entities to a pro-Blakeman super PAC.
James Dolan’s family and Madison Square Garden businesses have directed millions of dollars towards Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman’s bid for New York governor, according to WIRED’s review of public records.
The review found $108,000 in direct donations from the Dolan family to Blakeman and $970,000 to the Nassau County Republican Party, which WIRED says became his largest contributor. MSG entities also gave $2 million to Strong and Safe New York, a super PAC supporting Blakeman. The committee has raised $5.3 million overall.
Blakeman, Nassau County executive, has backed Flock cameras, cooperation between local detectives and ICE, and AI data centres. WIRED reports that the donations come amid disputes over surveillance at Dolan’s venues, including Madison Square Garden’s use of facial recognition, and scrutiny by New York officials.
The New York attorney general’s investigation into MSG’s facial recognition deployment is continuing, a source familiar with the matter told WIRED. City Council members are also considering a bill to rein in biometric surveillance, while state lawmakers have introduced a proposal to end MSG’s property tax break.
The campaign spending brings Dolan into a closely watched contest against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. The supplied report does not specify the donations’ reporting period; its figures are based on WIRED’s review and are not independently verified here.
