Blakeman Set to Enter NY Governor Race Against Stefanik
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is expected to announce his candidacy for the New York governor’s race on Tuesday, going head-to-head with U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik for the Republican nomination, according to reports.
There has been a lot of chatter recently regarding whether Blakeman, a longtime friend of President Trump, would officially run against Stefanik, a well-known ally of the White House. It sounds like he’s ready to make that announcement in the morning.
Sources indicate that Blakeman will prioritize making New York more affordable and safer, aiming to put the state’s interests first.
Trump has stayed neutral about endorsing either candidate when questioned. He mentioned, “She’s great. He’s great,” while adding he would “think about” supporting any gubernatorial candidates.
Stefanik confirmed her run last month and has been working to gather support from key figures in the party, especially after Blakeman expressed interest in the race following his recent re-election as Nassau County executive.
Interestingly, of the 62 county Republican Party chairs in New York, 58 have already thrown their support behind Stefanik. This includes her rival, Rep. Mike Lawler, who had considered running for office directly but instead opted for re-election in Congress.
Polls show that Stefanik has a significant lead over Blakeman for the Republican primary. One survey indicated that if the primary were held today, Stefanik would secure about 35% of the votes, compared to just 7% for Blakeman and 18% for Lawler.
Stefanik’s team quickly responded to Blakeman’s anticipated entry into the race, accusing him of prioritizing his ego over the state’s best interests. One spokesperson remarked that Blakeman has a history of collaborating with Democrats, which undermines opportunities to improve New York.
Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the developments, expressing that a Republican primary would add excitement to the race and challenged the candidates to see how they perform against MAGA influences in the primaries.
