Blakeman Defends His Long-Time Support for the Bills

ALBANY — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman responded Tuesday to what he perceived as a jab from Governor Kathy Hochul, who referred to him as a “new fan” of the Buffalo Bills.

“I was at a Bills game last week,” Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, remarked, referring to the team’s final home game on January 4 at Highmark Stadium. “The governor noticed my Bills golf shirt and assumed I was a recent fan. Actually, my son gave me that shirt about 12 to 15 years ago when I was frustrated about the Jets moving away from Long Island.”

“I’ve been a Bills fan for quite a while,” he insisted.

During the game, Blakeman even took a picture with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Olivia Dunn and her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skeens.

However, when discussing his favorite Bills player, he stumbled a bit, neglecting to mention the legendary name of a famous Yankees catcher. “Bruce Smith is my favorite, obviously because we share a name. But then there’s also… um, Thurman Munson, Andre Reed, Jim Kelly, and, oh, Jack Kemp,” he mentioned, before a Buffalo News reporter reminded him of Munson’s Yankees legacy.

“What I actually meant was… Thurman Thomas,” he corrected himself, attributing the confusion to his fondness for Munson. “But yeah, Thurman Munson was always my favorite Yankee, so that explains it.”

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries about Blakeman’s comments. Hochul, a Buffalo native, has openly expressed her allegiance to the Bills Mafia in the past.

Known for her active presence on social media, Hochul celebrated the Bills’ dramatic 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Wild Card Round. “What a game! Let’s go to Buffalo!” she shared enthusiastically online.

In her State of the State address Tuesday, she donned a Bills hat, left the stage with a visual of star quarterback Josh Allen, and played the Bills’ “Shout” song.

A fun tidbit: her office shared a doctored image of her jumping onto a folding table—an interesting tradition among Bills fans.

Hochul expressed to Politico that she might just follow through with table-jumping if the Bills clinch the Super Bowl. “I’ll have to think it over, but I’ll give it a shot. If they win the Super Bowl, I’m all in,” she stated.

The governor is currently navigating some backlash over her commitment of taxpayer funds for the new Bills stadium, set to open in the 2026 season. Erie County officials had agreed to allocate an additional $250 million for the stadium, alongside about $600 million from the state, amidst threats from Bills ownership to leave the area.

Despite the criticism, Blakeman expressed his general support for utilizing state funds for a new stadium, insisting that it could be a smart economic move. “I think the state has a role in economic development and public-private partnerships,” he noted. “Ultimately, it’s vital for the Bills to remain in Buffalo rather than relocate.”