Uber Pours $1 Million Into Hochul Ad Blitz as Re-Election Season Heats Up

On a brisk Thursday morning in Midtown, Governor Kathy Hochul’s campaign got an unexpected boost: Uber has launched a $1 million advertising push in support of her re-election bid. The ride-hailing giant’s latest campaign, already peppering social media feeds and subway stations, features New York students and families vouching for Hochul’s education initiatives and transit policies.

The timing is impossible to miss. With City Hall and Albany bracing for a busy election season, Uber’s move marks one of the most visible corporate endorsements to date. The company’s ads, which began appearing this week, highlight Hochul’s support for gig workers and her role in shaping the city’s post-pandemic transportation landscape. At a SoHo press event on Tuesday, Uber representatives emphasized the governor’s willingness to engage with tech companies on contentious issues like driver protections and congestion pricing.

Not everyone is cheering. Transit advocates and some City Council members voiced concern over the optics of a tech giant wading so publicly into local politics, especially as state lawmakers continue to debate legislation affecting ride-share drivers’ rights. “A million-dollar ad buy doesn’t erase real questions about worker protections,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who represents parts of Queens.

Still, for Hochul’s campaign, the support is timely. Early voting begins in just over a month, and the city’s political calendar is in full swing. As yellow cabs weave through after-school traffic and campaign posters line the avenues, the question now is whether Uber’s high-profile backing helps tip the scales—or simply fuels a fresher round of debate over the future of work in New York.