Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman has become embroiled in a significant campaign finance controversy after reportedly accepting numerous donations exceeding the legal limits. This has placed his campaign under scrutiny, with questions about adherence to state campaign finance laws and the management of his finances.

Blakeman has failed to refund approximately $360,000 to donors who contributed beyond the permissible amount. According to state rules, gubernatorial candidates are allowed to accept a maximum of $9,000 from individual donors per election. Since Blakeman did not compete in a primary, the cap should have been strictly $9,000, yet reports indicate that the campaign received multiple contributions exceeding this limit.

Several instances of excess contributions were recorded well past the primary's conclusion. Notable among these was a contribution of $18,000 by Knicks owner James Dolan before the primary's status was clear. Moreover, at least 40 other donations have surpassed the $9,000 mark since the certification of the primary ballot on May 13.

The Blakeman campaign has also employed an unusual tactic of requesting donors cover processing fees, which effectively raises their total contribution above the set limits. For instance, a donation of $9,000 through his donation page automatically suggests adding $369.14 to cover these fees, a practice that has been critiqued by campaign finance experts.

POLITICO reached out to the Blakeman campaign regarding the overdue refunds but received a response that skirted the issue. According to spokesperson Madison Spanodemos, the campaign's financial disclosures include duplicated entries due to data overflow, a claim refuted by the Public Campaign Finance Board, which attributed the issue to user error.

The campaign finance board's analysis suggests that if all potential duplicate entries were corrected, Blakeman's campaign would show a $114,000 deficit, even without considering the refunds owed.

In contrast, Governor Kathy Hochul's campaign, which has also received contributions over the limit, has promptly returned any excess funds, adhering to the same legal guidelines.

This financial mismanagement has become a focal point in the gubernatorial race, with Democratic officials accusing Blakeman of prioritizing electoral success over legal compliance. State Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs criticized Blakeman for his handling of campaign finances, suggesting desperation on his part.

As the campaign progresses, these financial discrepancies continue to cast a shadow over Blakeman's gubernatorial bid, raising serious questions about the integrity and legality of his campaign financing.