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Bruce Blakeman was one of the few Republicans who can say that Election Day 2025 was a rousing success, as the Nassau County Executive easily captured a second term in the Republican stronghold. But no sooner had the last bit of confetti fallen at the victory party than the whispers began that Blakeman is now setting his sights on running for the Governor’s mansion in Albany next year. That could mean a potential clash with Elise Stefanik, the U.S. Representative who many see as the anointed GOP hopeful to challenge Kathy Hochul after she had to pass on the post of United States ambassador to the United Nations and prop up the slender GOP lead in the House of Representatives. Blakeman appeared on 710 WOR’s Mendte in the Morning program to discuss the future of Nassau County in general, and a future run for Albany in particular.
Blakeman told host Larry Mendte he hasn’t decided yet if he’d run for governor, but if he does, he wants to run a campaign of positivity. “What we do in Nassau County should be a model for the rest of this state. We apply American values, common sense principles. I was a big supporter of President Trump closing the borders. We have the most comprehensive agreement with ICE of any municipality in the United States, so I think that those are important principles to people who are Republicans, but also, we reach across the aisle… Reaching out to communities that aren’t traditionally Republican, that’s the key to winning, but you don’t give up your Republican values, because then people will say that you are a phony, and they won’t trust you.”
Blakeman, who says he is still undecided about running for governor, also addressed his potential handling of Stefanik, who many feel was promised by President Trump a chance to run against Hochul in exchange for staying in the House: “There should be some competition, and basically, the Republican party should nominate the best candidate to defeat Kathy Hochul. If it’s me, I’m ready to go, pedal to the metal, and if it’s Elise Stefanik, I’m going to support her 100 per cent.”
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