Blakeman Chooses Tough-on-Crime Sheriff for Gubernatorial Run

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, is reportedly set to choose Richard Giardino, an upstate sheriff noted for his tough-on-crime policies and pro-gun rights views, as his running mate, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Giardino, currently the sheriff of Fulton County, is likely to be announced as the lieutenant governor candidate alongside Blakeman, who serves as Nassau County executive.

With a robust law enforcement background, Giardino stands out as someone who has held multiple significant roles in New York’s legal system—he’s said to be the only person to have served as an elected district attorney, Supreme Court justice, and sheriff.

His experience also includes time as a police officer, corrections officer, and even volunteer firefighter for a quarter of a century.

Giardino is expected to make his first public appearance with Blakeman soon, ahead of their party’s nominating convention in Garden City, officials mentioned.

This creates a matchup of male Republicans against a female Democratic ticket, which includes incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul and her running mate, Adrian Adams, a former New York City Council president.

“I’m really impressed by him. I believe he’ll bring a lot to the ticket,” remarked state Conservative Party chairman Jerry Kasser, involved in the selection process. He continued to praise Giardino, highlighting his respect within the county and among other sheriffs statewide.

Kasser pointed out that Giardino could represent upstate interests well, especially in balancing with Blakeman, who is also from that region.

“His diverse background in law enforcement is quite notable,” Kasser stated.

Statistics indicate a decline in crime in Fulton County since 2010, based on data from the state Bureau of Criminal Justice, reflecting the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report.

Giardino has expressed strong opinions about gun rights, criticizing Hochul and the Democratic Party for enacting a concealed carry reform. He argued that they failed to consult necessary stakeholders, such as sheriffs and law enforcement, when implementing what he termed “bad law.”

“They didn’t involve any real partners or do proper investigations—they just pushed through serious limitations that affect citizens’ rights,” Giardino told a news organization in 2023.

Born and raised in Fulton County, Giardino graduated from Gloversville High School and later attended Siena College and Albany Law School. Throughout his academic journey, he worked internships with various law enforcement agencies.

After obtaining his law degree, he began as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County but soon returned to Fulton County as a prosecutor, eventually being elected district attorney in 1991 and serving multiple terms.

In 1996, he was appointed by Governor George Pataki to fill a vacancy as Fulton County Court Judge, serving until his re-election in 2006 and managing thousands of cases during his tenure.

Blakeman’s choice of Giardino reinforces a trend of law enforcement-focused candidates in Republican ticket formations. For instance, in 2022, Republican candidate Lee Zeldin chose Allison Esposito, a former NYPD official, as his running mate.

Blakeman is anticipated to secure the party’s nomination at the upcoming convention, with festivities planned for Monday and Tuesday, leading up to a formal vote on Wednesday morning.

In addition, party leaders are likely to nominate Joseph Hernandez for the state comptroller position. The Republican nominations for the race against Democratic Attorney General Letitia James remain competitive, with former federal prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy in the running against crypto lawyer Khurram Dara.

Although Giardino had thought about running for the seat left by retiring Rep. Elise Stefanik, he ultimately opted not to pursue it.