Nassau County Republican Bruce Blakeman to run for New York governor

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced his bid for governor of New York, signaling a primary face-off with GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Mr. Blakeman, who won reelection on Long Island in November, will contest for the Republican nomination with Ms. Stefanik.

Both look to defeat Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is seeking reelection to a second full term, as President Trump has remained neutral.

“We’ll think about it, but he’s great and she’s great. They’re both great people,” Mr. Trump said when asked if he would be giving an endorsement Monday. “We have a lot of great people with the Republican Party.”

Mr. Blakeman took to social media to thank Mr. Trump for recognizing him as “great,” adding that state residents deserve a leader who will bring down costs, strengthen public safety and put New York first.

“By still declining to endorse either one, Trump is ensuring that whichever of his enablers emerges from this GOP primary, after bear-hugging his harmful agenda, will be damaged goods in a general election,” a New York State Democratic Party spokesperson said in a statement. 

But Mr. Blakeman said on “Fox & Friends” that he believes the president does not have to make a decision now. 

Ms. Stefanik’s campaign reacted to his announcement by citing polling that shows her in the lead, claiming that she is the “strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul by a long shot.”

“Bruce Blakeman is an early Christmas present to Kathy Hochul as he works to blow Republicans’ best chance to win,” her campaign said.

While the two Republican candidates hail from different parts of the state, if either one wins, it would be a major victory for the party; New York has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki, who served from 1995 to 2007.

When asked on “Fox & Friends” if a Republican in New York has a shot at governor, Mr. Blakeman confidently answered yes.

Ms. Hochul quickly bashed Mr. Blakeman, comparing him to a dirty politician with a “raging ego.”

“Blakeman raised costs on New Yorkers and cheered on Trump’s tariffs like the MAGA fanboy he is — flying all the way to D.C. to applaud higher prices. He gushed that Trump is doing an ‘amazing job’ by gutting Medicaid and jacking up costs,” her campaign said in a statement. “We’re not about to let him turn the governor’s mansion into Mar-a-Lago North.”

Mr. Blakeman clapped back, saying that the incumbent governor is a “failure” while he boasts “one of the most prosperous counties in America.”

Mr. Hochul is facing a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. 

In his announcement interview, Mr. Blakeman said he is ready to take on Ms. Stefanik in a tough primary.