Republican Bruce Blakeman is entering the New York governor’s race, sources tell CBS News New York.
The two-term Nassau County executive is expected to make a formal announcement about his 2026 campaign on Tuesday.
Blakeman won reelection on Long Island in November and will now challenge upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for the GOP’s nomination for governor.
“We’ll think about it, but he’s great and she’s great. They’re both great people. We have a lot of great people with the Republican party,” President Trump said Monday, when asked if he would be giving an endorsement.
On social media on Monday night, Blakeman thanked Mr. Trump for recognizing him as “great” in the conversation for New York governor. Blakeman went on to say state residents deserve a leader who will bring down costs, strengthen public safety and put New York first.
New York has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki won a third term in 2002.
Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, is seeking reelection to a second full term. She is facing a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Hochul defeated Lee Zeldin, another Long Island Republican, in the 2022 general election.
Stefanik campaign, N.Y. Democratic Party react
Stefanik’s campaign released a lengthy statement addressing Blakeman’s apparent quest for the Executive Mansion in Albany.
“Even those in Nassau County who are closest to Bruce Blakeman will tell you that everyone knows Bruce has no shot and is putting his raging ego first and New Yorkers last as he blows up the best opportunity in a generation to Save New York. Bruce’s failed statewide electoral record speaks for itself: he has lost every statewide primary and general over the last three decades in smashing fashion,” spokesperson Bernadette Breslin said. “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is beating Blakeman by over 50% in every primary poll, including beating him by 20 points on Long Island. She polls as the strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul in the general election.”
New York State Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick released a statement that reads, in part, “By still declining to endorse either one, Trump is ensuring that whichever of his enablers emerges from this GOP primary, after bear-hugging his harmful agenda, will be damaged goods in a general election.”
Blakeman’s rising national profile among conservatives
Blakeman has gained a national profile for his conservative stance, which has energized his GOP base.
Before winning reelection in Nassau County, there were questions about whether Blakeman would serve out his term. Political allies have long seen him as a viable GOP candidate in the gubernatorial race.
“I am going to work very hard to keep taxes down. I haven’t raised taxes one penny in four years,” he said during his reelection campaign against Democratic Legislator Seth Koslow.
Issues that helped propel Blakeman to victory in November were his stances on, among others, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, transgender athlete bans, and opioid settlement money.
Political expert J.C. Polanco, an assistant professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx, called the revelation, “a very serious decision by the county executive.”
Polanco said the move by Blakeman is calculated and very intentional because, like Stefanik, he is formidable.
“You have a county executive in Nassau who is very popular in his own right, represents an area that is downstate, that is very voter-rich, has a lot of appeal, not only from Republicans and conservatives but obviously from independents and Democrats,” Polanco said.
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