Blakeman Selects Running Mate for Gubernatorial Campaign
Bruce Blakeman, a Republican candidate for governor, has announced that Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood will be his running mate. This decision came shortly after Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino reportedly declined Blakeman’s earlier offer.
“Todd is a solid guy. I think we’ll make a good team together,” Blakeman remarked.
Hood, who has served as sheriff since 2018, previously spent over two decades with the Syracuse Police Department. Blakeman mentioned that Giardino had expressed concerns about balancing a statewide campaign with his current role as sheriff, which he found to be accurate.
Blakeman seemed quite confident in his choice, emphasizing Hood’s determination to take on the role. “My wife agreed. We are completely vindicated,” he joked after being sworn in for a second term as Nassau County Executive.
Hood is not just a law enforcement official; he serves as vice president of the New York State Sheriff’s Association and is the chairman of the National Sheriff’s Association School Safety Committee. His qualifications include working as a detective in a gang task force, a SWAT supervisor, and a deputy in the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Springfield College and hails from Oneida. Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign has not missed the chance to poke fun at Blakeman’s earlier rejection by Giardino, stating that it was reminiscent of a “Super Bowl” in terms of how quickly it happened. Their campaign playfully questioned the commitment of Blakeman’s candidates for the position.
As Blakeman moves forward, he is anticipated to secure the party’s nomination at the upcoming Republican convention, which is scheduled to take place over several days. A vote for the gubernatorial candidate is expected on Wednesday morning.
In addition, discussions are underway about nominating Joseph Hernandez for state comptroller. Of note, the race against Democratic Attorney General Letitia James is heating up, with former federal prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy competing against cryptocurrency lawyer Khurram Dara.
It’s worth mentioning that Republicans haven’t managed to win statewide in New York since George Pataki was re-elected in 2002.
