Uber Pours $3M Into New Election Spending Group Poised to Back Hochul

Weeks after Governor Kathy Hochul announced legislation aimed at reining in auto insurance costs, a deep-pocketed supporter of the budget bill has emerged to support her.

According to state records, the ride-sharing giant Uber has put nearly $3 million into a newly created independent expenditure committee registered as providing outside support for Hochul’s reelection campaign. The committee immediately reported spending $2.5 million on a television ad supporting Hochul.

The battle over Hochul’s insurance reform proposal is shaping up to be one of the fiercest battles of the 2026 state budget, pitting the state’s trial lawyer lobbying groups against Uber and major insurance companies, which hope to cap certain payouts from car accidents.

In registration paperwork filed Monday, the independent expenditure group, Citizens for Affordable Rates, listed “support” of Hochul as its electoral objective.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the ad will directly advocate for Hochul’s re-election. Uber’s priority is pushing through Hochul’s auto insurance plan during this year’s legislative session — before the primary or general elections occur. Even so, a heavily aired commercial touting Hochul’s commitment to lowering auto insurance rates could politically benefit the governor as she runs for a new term.

A lobbying group of the same name began lobbying Albany late last year, according to state records. In the final two months of 2025, Albany Strategic Advisors, a firm hired by the group, lobbied Hochul’s office concerning “potential legislation concerning auto insurance reform.”

While it’s not clear from state records exactly what the lobbying group pitched to Hochul’s office, auto insurance reforms were a major piece of the agenda Hochul laid out in her State of the State address last month. A spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates has called Hochul’s proposal “decisive action against the outdated rules and widespread fraud” and “a game-changer for the millions of families struggling amid the state’s affordability crisis.”

Two weeks ago, when the publication Streetsblog reached out to Hochul’s office for comment on her proposal, a spokesperson for the governor responded with talking points written by Citizens for Affordable Rates and forwarded to the governor’s office by Uber. In 2026, the lobbying arm of Citizens for Affordable Rates plans to spend $7 million, according to a registration statement recently filed by the group.

Approximately 25 percent of every rider’s fare goes to paying mandatory auto insurance costs, an expense driven up by fraud, according to Uber. The company argues that both Uber drivers and riders will benefit from Hochul’s proposal. According to Hochul, New Yorkers have among the highest auto insurance costs in the nation. She laid out a series of proposals to lower them, including plans to target fraud and legal loopholes.

The State Trial Lawyers Association argues that Hochul’s proposal will simply enrich insurance companies. The association has deep relationships in the state legislature and is a major campaign supporter of Democrats, who control the majorities in both houses.

A spokesperson for the Trial Lawyers Association declined to comment on its lobbying or election spending plans this session.

It’s possible the Uber-backed committee could later engage in spending for or against members of the legislature based on whether they support Hochul’s plan. Moonshot Strategies, a consulting firm that’s listed in committee’s registration paperwork, did not immediately have a comment.

Other supporters of Hochul’s efforts include the New York Insurance Association, the state Business Council, and other business groups. When Hochul made her announcement in January, the outgoing president of the business-backed Partnership for New York City, Kathryn Wylde, told New York Focus that Hochul’s proposal was “very courageous, given the biggest lobbying group in Albany is the trial lawyers. And it’s about time. And in terms of the affordability agenda, it’s very important.”

Besides Uber, other “partners” in Citizens for Affordable Rates include Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the Trucking Association of New York, and charter bus company Coach USA, according to the lobbying group’s website.

Hochul’s own campaign has a significant fundraising advantage over her expected Democratic primary opponent, Antonio Delgado, and likely Republican general election opponent, Bruce Blakeman.

In recent remarks to reporters, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said this one was one of the few major issues that could pit the legislature against the governor this budget season.

“We have to figure this out because I do think victims of accidents need to have their settlements and their day in court, so maybe we’ll find something that works for everybody,” Heastie reportedly stated.

In 2022, all outside spending groups combined spent a total of $22.1 million supporting or opposing Hochul or her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, according to state records. Two groups supporting Zeldin, which were heavily funded by billionaire Ronald Lauder, spent more than $17 million.