Liberal actress Debra Messing is backing GOP New York gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakemen over incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul, citing the cost of living in the state and New York City in particular.

Messing has in the past supported Democratic candidates such as Hillary Clinton, in her 2016 bid for president, and Cynthia Nixon's 2018 bid for New York governor.

"Oh gosh, I am so grateful that you are running," the New York native told Blakeman in a video shared on Instagram. "You are what we need more than anything. The decline in this city over the last four years has been so exponential and devastating economically, socially on every level, and obviously we've lost so much business here. People are leaving the city."

Messing said she believes that Blakeman, who serves as Nassau County executive, is the "affordable" candidate and praised him for making affordability one of the top focuses of his campaign. 

"I was born here," she said. "This is the city I love, and it's not the city that I love anymore. And I believe with all my heart that you are the answer. You are the affordable candidate, and I think more than anything people are just really struggling. 

"And they need their utilities to be lower. It's just too expensive to live in New York City, and I love the fact that that is top of your mind."

Blakeman's campaign also focuses on lowering taxes and combatting crime and illegal immigration, according to Fox News.