Blakeman Complicates GOP Plan to Skip Primary, Eyes Governor's Race
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is shaking things up within the New York Republican Party by exploring a run for governor in 2026. Despite party leaders declaring there won't be a primary and backing Rep. Elise Stefanik as their top choice, Blakeman remains undeterred.
Blakeman's decision to seek the governor's seat comes after his decisive reelection last week, which was seen as a surprise given the poor performance of Republican candidates nationwide. He believes that his ability to connect with voters in New York City and on Long Island, his home county, gives him an edge in the election.
"I think I have a base and a springboard for becoming a governor that's much stronger than anybody else," Blakeman said in a statement. "Because if you're not rolling up big numbers in Nassau County and Suffolk County as a Republican, you have no shot to become the governor of the state."
However, Blakeman's plans are met with resistance from party leaders, including state GOP Chair Ed Cox, who has declared that there won't be a primary. Cox supports Stefanik, who recently launched her gubernatorial campaign, and believes that focusing on defeating Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is more effective than a costly battle for the nomination.
Despite the pushback, Blakeman remains committed to exploring the possibility of running for governor. He plans to visit several regions across New York state, including the Southern Tier and Western New York, in an effort to build support among party officials, business leaders, and reporters.
Blakeman's strategy is being watched closely by observers, who note that Republicans face significant challenges in the election. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-to-1 in the state, making it difficult for a Republican candidate to win statewide. However, Blakeman believes his familiarity with Long Island and his ability to connect with voters in that region give him an advantage.
Trump's Potential Endorsement
One factor that could help clear the field is President Donald Trump's endorsement of one of the candidates. If Trump throws his support behind either Blakeman or Stefanik, much of the Republican Party apparatus would likely fall in line.
For now, both Blakeman and Stefanik are focusing on building their campaigns and winning over party officials, business leaders, and voters. As the 2026 governor's race approaches, it remains to be seen which candidate will emerge as the front-runner for the Republican nomination.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is shaking things up within the New York Republican Party by exploring a run for governor in 2026. Despite party leaders declaring there won't be a primary and backing Rep. Elise Stefanik as their top choice, Blakeman remains undeterred.
Blakeman's decision to seek the governor's seat comes after his decisive reelection last week, which was seen as a surprise given the poor performance of Republican candidates nationwide. He believes that his ability to connect with voters in New York City and on Long Island, his home county, gives him an edge in the election.
"I think I have a base and a springboard for becoming a governor that's much stronger than anybody else," Blakeman said in a statement. "Because if you're not rolling up big numbers in Nassau County and Suffolk County as a Republican, you have no shot to become the governor of the state."
However, Blakeman's plans are met with resistance from party leaders, including state GOP Chair Ed Cox, who has declared that there won't be a primary. Cox supports Stefanik, who recently launched her gubernatorial campaign, and believes that focusing on defeating Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is more effective than a costly battle for the nomination.
Despite the pushback, Blakeman remains committed to exploring the possibility of running for governor. He plans to visit several regions across New York state, including the Southern Tier and Western New York, in an effort to build support among party officials, business leaders, and reporters.
Blakeman's strategy is being watched closely by observers, who note that Republicans face significant challenges in the election. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-to-1 in the state, making it difficult for a Republican candidate to win statewide. However, Blakeman believes his familiarity with Long Island and his ability to connect with voters in that region give him an advantage.
Trump's Potential Endorsement
One factor that could help clear the field is President Donald Trump's endorsement of one of the candidates. If Trump throws his support behind either Blakeman or Stefanik, much of the Republican Party apparatus would likely fall in line.
For now, both Blakeman and Stefanik are focusing on building their campaigns and winning over party officials, business leaders, and voters. As the 2026 governor's race approaches, it remains to be seen which candidate will emerge as the front-runner for the Republican nomination.
blakeman's move to run for gov is a total game changer, especially if he gets any sort of endorsement from trump 
it's like the republicans are trying to recreate the 2016 mess all over again 
and with democrats outnumbering reps in new york state by more than 2-to-1, it's going to be tough for anyone to win 
. I think he's got a point about connecting with voters on Long Island and Nassau County, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough to overcome the Democratic majority 
. Republicans need to focus on building a strong grassroots movement to take down Hochul, rather than fighting each other in a primary.
. But at this point, it's all speculation - only time will tell if Blakeman or Stefanik has what it takes to take on Hochul 
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. We'll have to wait and see how this all unfolds in the coming months! 
or maybe they're trying to distract us from the real issue: Blakeman's weird connection to Long Island... i mean, how is he gonna win over all those voters if his base ain't even in Nassau County? 
blakeman throwing his hat into the ring is gonna make things interesting especially with trump potentially endorsing someone its gonna be a wild ride 
but at the end of the day i think its time for some fresh blood in ny politics maybe someone who can bring the party back from that dark place it was in 2022 
anyway thats my two cents what do you guys think will happen in this election?
. I mean, if they can just coalesce behind one candidate and make a united front against Hochul, that would be a huge boost for their chances. Trump's potential endorsement could definitely shake things up, though - if he gets on board with Blakeman or Stefanik, that could be a game-changer 
. But overall, I think it's still tough for Republicans to win the governor's seat in 2026, given the Democratic majority 
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it's like they think he's just going to magically disappear or something. meanwhile, Stefanik is over here trying to build her campaign with Trump's potential endorsement hanging over her head like a sword of Damocles 
. It's all about manipulating the party and playing both sides against each other. Mark my words, Blakeman's chances of winning are slim to none 
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️. But at the same time, it's gonna be tough for him to take down Hochul or even Stefanik... they've both got a lot of experience and a strong team behind them 
. Still, I'm intrigued by Blakeman's underdog approach - maybe he'll surprise us all with a governor win 
He's not afraid to challenge the party status quo and go against what they're telling him. I think his experience as Nassau County Executive gives him an edge in connecting with voters, especially in Long Island and NYC. Plus, if Trump gets on board, it'll be a huge boost for Blakeman's campaign 
. It's not about whether there'll be a primary or not, it's about who can win the hearts of New Yorkers. And let's be real, Blakeman's got a strong case to make. He's not just some out-of-touch politician trying to capitalize on his position; he genuinely believes in what he's doing 
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and Rep Stefanik already has their support... it's like, dude why bother? 
we'll see how this all plays out