Republican Bruce Blakeman is formally coming into the race for New York governor. The Nassau County government formally launched his 2026 marketing campaign with a video message early Tuesday morning.
“I need to replicate what we did in Nassau County. We made Nassau County the most secure county in America. The poverty charge is the bottom in all of New York State,” Blakeman added in a morning interview on Fox 5. “I have not raised taxes a penny in 4 years.”
The announcement comes contemporary off Blakeman’s commanding reelection victory final month on Long Island, profitable a Democratic county by 12%.
His entry into the race units up a major problem towards upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a rising determine within the Republican celebration and main supporter of President Trump.
Whoever earns the GOP nomination would tackle the winner of the Democratic major between incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, who’s searching for reelection to a second full time period, and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.
The major is ready for June 23, 2026, adopted by the overall election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Stefanik, Hochul react to Blakeman becoming a member of N.Y. governor race
Republicans, who see Hochul as susceptible, had been hoping to keep away from a major, which is pricey and might take focus away from the governor’s report.
Stefanik’s spokesperson slammed Blakeman for stepping into the race, saying, “Bruce Blakeman is an early Christmas current to Kathy Hochul as he works to blow Republicans’ greatest probability to win.”
A spokesperson for group Hochul did the identical, saying, “Bootlicker Bruce Blakeman has misplaced nearly each race he is touched – county legislator, comptroller, Congress, even U.S. Senate. There’s a motive: similar to Donald Trump, he takes cash out of New Yorkers’ pockets and squeezes working households at each flip.”
Blakeman is undaunted that state celebration Chairman Ed Cox and others are within the Stefanik camp.
“He does not converse for all Republicans in New York State. He’s the state chairman,” Blakeman stated. “First of all, I’ve a a a lot stronger group than the state group in Nassau County. We raised about $7 million final yr for our candidates. I believe New York State GOP raised about $300,000.”
Law professor J.C. Polanco stated Stefanik is a rockstar within the celebration, and Blakeman may have his work lower out for him within the major.
“He’s a really eloquent New York Republican type of man. Can he survive a major towards a MAGA juggernaut? Only time will inform,” stated Polanco.
Trump says Blakeman and Stefanik are “each nice individuals”
Blakeman and Stefanik can even should court docket the president, who, to this point, has refused to place his thumb on the size, calling them each nice individuals.
“We’ll give it some thought, however he is nice and he or she’s nice. They’re each nice individuals. We have a variety of nice individuals with the Republican celebration,” Mr. Trump stated Monday, when requested if he can be giving an endorsement within the race.
Experts say the president may determine to play one other function by urging one of many candidates to again out in an effort to give the celebration a greater probability towards Hochul.
Blakeman has gained a nationwide profile for his conservative stance, which has energized his GOP base. Issues that helped propel him to victory in November had been his stances on, amongst others, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, transgender athlete bans and opioid settlement cash.
New York has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki received a 3rd time period in 2002.
