Bruce Blakeman, a Republican county official in New York City’s Long Island suburbs, has launched a campaign for New York governor.Top video: See previous coverageBlakeman, a firebrand Long Island Republican who has been labeled “100% MAGA” by President Donald Trump, criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a social media post and said New Yorkers deserve leadership that works.In an appearance Tuesday on the Fox News “Fox and Friends” show, Blakeman said Hochul is a “failure” who needs to be replaced. “I’m running for office to make people more prosperous, to make them safer and to make New Yorkers happy again.”Blakeman’s candidacy kicks off what is expected to be a heated Republican contest against Stefanik, a conservative from northern New York who Trump nominated for U.N. ambassador, only to withdraw it over concerns that the slim GOP majority couldn’t afford to lose any more House seats. Stefanik announced her candidacy last month.Trump on Monday declined to take a side in the incoming primary race when asked about Blakeman and Stefanik, instead telling reporters, “He’s great, and she’s great. They’re both great people.”Democrats enjoy a strong voter registration advantage in New York, but next year’s race for governor is expected to be one of the nation’s most watched contests. Hochul, a moderate Democrat, is facing a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.Blakeman, the executive of Nassau County, has gained attention for championing a policy that bans transgender athletes from using county sports facilities. He has also created a volunteer law enforcement unit that his critics have labeled as a militia and directed county detectives to work alongside federal authorities in Trump’s immigration crackdown.Nassau’s first Jewish county executive, he also signed a local ban on wearing face masks in public except for health or religious reasons, a measure that critics complain is aimed at cracking down on pro-Palestine demonstrations.Blakeman cruised to victory in his election to a second term in November. And previously, he served in the Hempstead Town Council and held an appointed post as the commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.But bigger elective offices have eluded him. Hochul’s campaign issued a statement saying Blakeman “has lost just about every race he’s touched — county legislator, comptroller, Congress, even U.S. Senate. There’s a reason: just like Donald Trump, he takes money out of New Yorkers’ pockets and squeezes working families at every turn.”Stefanik represents a conservative congressional district in Northern New York. She launched her campaign after Trump rescinded her nomination to be his ambassador to the United Nations, citing concerns about the Republican Party’s narrow House majority.In a statement, Bernadette Breslin, a spokesperson for Stefanik’s campaign, said Stefanik is a stronger candidate than Blakeman and that “it is unfortunate that he is putting his ego first to help prop up Kathy Hochul.”Both Blakeman and Stefanik now frame themselves as candidates who could appeal to moderate Democrats as well as Republicans, even though both have adopted the brash political rhetoric of Trump, who remains unpopular in New York.Former Gov. George Pataki was the state’s last Republican governor, leaving office about two decades ago.Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, is running for reelection but faces a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.
Bruce Blakeman, a Republican county official in New York City’s Long Island suburbs, has launched a campaign for New York governor.
Top video: See previous coverage
Advertisement
Blakeman, a firebrand Long Island Republican who has been labeled “100% MAGA” by President Donald Trump, criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a social media post and said New Yorkers deserve leadership that works.
In an appearance Tuesday on the Fox News “Fox and Friends” show, Blakeman said Hochul is a “failure” who needs to be replaced. “I’m running for office to make people more prosperous, to make them safer and to make New Yorkers happy again.”
Blakeman’s candidacy kicks off what is expected to be a heated Republican contest against Stefanik, a conservative from northern New York who Trump nominated for U.N. ambassador, only to withdraw it over concerns that the slim GOP majority couldn’t afford to lose any more House seats. Stefanik announced her candidacy last month.
Trump on Monday declined to take a side in the incoming primary race when asked about Blakeman and Stefanik, instead telling reporters, “He’s great, and she’s great. They’re both great people.”
Democrats enjoy a strong voter registration advantage in New York, but next year’s race for governor is expected to be one of the nation’s most watched contests. Hochul, a moderate Democrat, is facing a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.
Blakeman, the executive of Nassau County, has gained attention for championing a policy that bans transgender athletes from using county sports facilities. He has also created a volunteer law enforcement unit that his critics have labeled as a militia and directed county detectives to work alongside federal authorities in Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Nassau’s first Jewish county executive, he also signed a local ban on wearing face masks in public except for health or religious reasons, a measure that critics complain is aimed at cracking down on pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Blakeman cruised to victory in his election to a second term in November. And previously, he served in the Hempstead Town Council and held an appointed post as the commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
But bigger elective offices have eluded him. Hochul’s campaign issued a statement saying Blakeman “has lost just about every race he’s touched — county legislator, comptroller, Congress, even U.S. Senate. There’s a reason: just like Donald Trump, he takes money out of New Yorkers’ pockets and squeezes working families at every turn.”
Stefanik represents a conservative congressional district in Northern New York. She launched her campaign after Trump rescinded her nomination to be his ambassador to the United Nations, citing concerns about the Republican Party’s narrow House majority.
In a statement, Bernadette Breslin, a spokesperson for Stefanik’s campaign, said Stefanik is a stronger candidate than Blakeman and that “it is unfortunate that he is putting his ego first to help prop up Kathy Hochul.”
Both Blakeman and Stefanik now frame themselves as candidates who could appeal to moderate Democrats as well as Republicans, even though both have adopted the brash political rhetoric of Trump, who remains unpopular in New York.
Former Gov. George Pataki was the state’s last Republican governor, leaving office about two decades ago.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, is running for reelection but faces a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.
