New York Governor Race Takes Shape as Bruce Blakeman Joins Fray
In a move that is likely to send shockwaves through the Republican Party, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced his candidacy for New York governor Tuesday. The surprise entry into the contest sets up a competitive primary against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has been seen as the party's frontrunner by many.
Blakeman, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, is positioning himself as the Republican leader of the New York City suburbs that have increasingly rallied behind Trump since 2016. He touted his record on public safety, immigration, and taxes in Nassau County, arguing that he would be a strong opponent for Governor Kathy Hochul.
However, Stefanik's campaign has fired back, with spokesperson Bernadette Breslin labeling Blakeman as an "early Christmas present" to Hochul. The congresswoman from the North Country is aligned closely with Trump and has been seen as the party's strongest candidate against Hochul.
Despite Blakeman's claims of being well-liked and respected within the party, Stefanik remains the GOP's best bet for taking the state Executive Mansion. Party Chair Ed Cox has expressed confidence that Stefanik will be the nominee at the convention, with Breslin stating that she is the "strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul by a long shot".
The move also sets up a potential showdown between Blakeman and Hochul in the general election. The governor has responded to Blakeman's entry into the contest by labeling him as another Trump supporter who would raise costs for New Yorkers.
The Republican primary is seen as a key test of party unity, with many hoping that Stefanik can unite the ranks behind her. However, with Blakeman now in the mix, it remains to be seen whether the party can come together behind a single candidate. One thing is certain, however: the governor's race has just become a lot more interesting.
In a move that is likely to send shockwaves through the Republican Party, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced his candidacy for New York governor Tuesday. The surprise entry into the contest sets up a competitive primary against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has been seen as the party's frontrunner by many.
Blakeman, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, is positioning himself as the Republican leader of the New York City suburbs that have increasingly rallied behind Trump since 2016. He touted his record on public safety, immigration, and taxes in Nassau County, arguing that he would be a strong opponent for Governor Kathy Hochul.
However, Stefanik's campaign has fired back, with spokesperson Bernadette Breslin labeling Blakeman as an "early Christmas present" to Hochul. The congresswoman from the North Country is aligned closely with Trump and has been seen as the party's strongest candidate against Hochul.
Despite Blakeman's claims of being well-liked and respected within the party, Stefanik remains the GOP's best bet for taking the state Executive Mansion. Party Chair Ed Cox has expressed confidence that Stefanik will be the nominee at the convention, with Breslin stating that she is the "strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul by a long shot".
The move also sets up a potential showdown between Blakeman and Hochul in the general election. The governor has responded to Blakeman's entry into the contest by labeling him as another Trump supporter who would raise costs for New Yorkers.
The Republican primary is seen as a key test of party unity, with many hoping that Stefanik can unite the ranks behind her. However, with Blakeman now in the mix, it remains to be seen whether the party can come together behind a single candidate. One thing is certain, however: the governor's race has just become a lot more interesting.
just when u thought the NY gov race was gonna be a breeze! 
Bruce Blakeman joining the fray means it's gonna get juicy 
. I'm low-key excited to see how this plays out, especially with Elise Stefanik and Kathy Hochul going head-to-head 
. One thing's for sure, public safety and immigration are hot topics now 
. If u're a republican, you gotta be ready for some serious debate on these issues 
. Can't wait to see how this all unfolds 
!
still gotta root for someone who can actually bring change to nyc subrbs 
. Plus, he's got a solid track record on public safety and taxes, which could give him an edge in key swing districts.
. That's still gotta count for something. It's gonna be a wild ride watching these two go head-to-head, especially if Blakeman can pull off some surprise wins in the primaries 
stefanik's gonna have to bring her A game if she wants to take him out of the running 
she's been building momentum for months now and it seems like the party is kinda rallying behind her 
plus Hochul just shot herself in the foot with that whole cost thing 
anyway, i'm intrigued by blakeman's stance on public safety and immigration...it'll be interesting to see how this plays out 
. That's just my two cents, though! What do we really know about Blakeman's stance on issues that matter? 
anyone think Hochul's gonna be ok with this? 
. blakeman might try to play on the suburban thing but let's be real, it's not like they're gonna magically win over Hochul voters just 'cause he's from nassau county 
. on the other hand, blakeman needs to step up his game and convince people that he's not just another trump minion 
. I think Stefanik is still the strongest contender, but Blakeman's got some solid credentials on his side - public safety, immigration, taxes... that's some serious stuff 
. And let's be real, if Trump is behind him 100%, it's gotta count for something 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out! Did I comment on this already? 
️ I mean, Stefanik was looking pretty solid as the party frontrunner, but Blakeman's got some serious baggage – being close to Trump and all that 
and now elise stefanik is firing back... party unity, schmartunity 
. But Elise Stefanik is still the fave, and I can see why - she's got the Trump machine behind her 
. So, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Can Stefanik unite the party, or will Blakeman be the dark horse? One thing's for sure: Kathy Hochul is gonna have her hands full