Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman launched his New York gubernatorial bid Tuesday, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) had biting words for the politician muddying the Republican primary waters.
Blakeman is expected to be Stefanik’s chief hurdle to challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) next year.
“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,” Team Elise spokeswoman Bernadette Breslin told the Washington Examiner.
“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. And after a career of colluding with elected Democrats, Blakeman’s swan song is choosing to prop up Kathy Hochul,” she added.
Blakeman’s campaign received some momentum on Monday after initially delaying his campaign launch, as reported by the Washington Examiner. When asked about the two candidates, Trump said both of them were “great” and refused to endorse one of them outright.
Blakeman launched his bid Tuesday instead.
The Nassau County Executive recently won reelection in a purple area by double-digits. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin triumphed in the 2022 New York Republican primary for governor by courting Long Island voters, and Blakeman will hope he can do the same.
In his launch video, Blakeman touted his general election win this year and said he “delivered on his promises of affordability and security.” In a subsequent Fox News appearance, he mirrored his messaging.
“We want to make it more affordable, we want to make New York safer, and we want to make people in New York happy again,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman’s entry into the race wasn’t guaranteed. In November, New York GOP head Ed Cox said he felt a GOP primary wasn’t on the horizon.
“There will not be a Republican primary and a year from now, Elise will lead our team to victory over Kathy Hochul, end one-party Democrat rule, and make New York affordable again,” he said.
The Democratic Governors Association released a memo Tuesday mocking New York Republican leaders for their alleged hopes and prayers “to avoid a damaging feud between two MAGA darlings.”
“Both candidates are set to spend the next months jockeying for a Trump endorsement that may never come – severely damaging their general election prospects as they do so,” they said.
Stefanik and Hochul have sparred for months. Blakeman hasn’t shied away from nipping at Hochul, but the New York governor has largely ignored the county executive. She seemed to revel in any possibility of a conflict between the Republicans, which is coming to fruition.
“Let ‘em fight it out, it’ll be a good spectator sport, I’ll be chowing plenty of popcorn on the sidelines watching that one,” she said in November. And Hochul’s team jumped on slamming Blakeman, accusing him of trying to turn the governor’s mansion into “Mar-a-Lago North.”
“Bootlicker Bruce Blakeman has lost just about every race he’s touched — county legislator, comptroller, Congress, even U.S. Senate. There’s a reason: just like Donald Trump, he takes money out of New Yorkers’ pockets and squeezes working families at every turn,” Hochul Campaign Communications Director Sarafina Chitika told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
“We’re not about to let him turn the governor’s mansion into Mar-a-Lago North,” she added.
A November poll showed Stefanik blowing out Blakeman in a Republican primary by nearly 70 points. Stefanik drew 74% support while Blakeman stood at 5% among Republican primary voters.
While the candidates have months until they need voters to turn out for them at the ballot box, the race is likely to be fierce. Both candidates want an opportunity to face off against Hochul, whose favorability has dipped into the negatives at points this year.
ELISE STEFANIK EYES LIFE BEYOND HOUSE, IS UNAFRAID TO GO OUT FIGHTING
But it will still be a steep climb to win as a Republican in the largely Democratic state. A messy Democratic primary between Hochul and her Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado could help, but the governor has a firm grip on the state’s Democratic structure and is favored.
Republican Party leaders were hoping for a clean start to 2026 for Stefanik, and Blakeman’s entry into the race damages those hopes. To win the governor’s mansion, Stefanik will now have to go through the brunt of the state’s electoral process.
