Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman used a live appearance on Newsmax’s “National Report” to make official what had been increasingly expected: he is running for governor of New York. The broadcast followed the release of his first campaign video, signaling the start of what could become a high-profile Republican showdown with Rep. Elise Stefanik as both aim to take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026.
Rather than dwell on the potential intraparty rivalry, Blakeman highlighted what he described as proof of his ability to win in politically mixed territory. He pointed to his most recent victory in Nassau County—an area he noted leans Democratic—as evidence that his message resonates across ideological lines. “Everybody wants the same thing. They want safe neighborhoods and they want low taxes. They want economic development. They want jobs. They want prosperity. They want a better place to live for their kids and their grandkids. I’m the guy that can do that,” Blakeman said, framing his campaign as focused on broad, kitchen-table concerns.
Stefanik’s recent swipe—claiming he has “no shot” and is motivated by ego—was mentioned during the interview, but Blakeman avoided turning the conversation into a GOP brawl. He said his attention is on defeating Hochul and underscored what he views as his advantage: hands-on experience managing a major suburban county with a multibillion-dollar budget.
The conversation then shifted to an attack video from Hochul’s camp, which attempted to tie Blakeman to President Donald Trump on issues ranging from tariffs to remarks about citizen militias. Blakeman was unapologetic about his relationship with Trump, remarking that he has not “run away” from him and calling Trump the most effective president he has seen. He added that he would gladly accept Trump’s endorsement while continuing his efforts to appeal to voters beyond the Republican base.
When the topic turned to New York City’s political landscape, Blakeman said he would not support any attempts by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to raise taxes. He also suggested that Albany could step in if the city government fails to enforce the law, including through measures that would bring state-level law enforcement into the picture to bolster public safety.
{Matzav.com}
