MINEOLA, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Friday that he’s considering a run for governor as fellow New York Republican Elise Stefanik, the upstate U.S. representative, launched her bid to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Blakeman said he’ll talk with voters in the coming weeks to gauge what they want in a candidate. But he also touted his executive experience leading a populous county.
“I’ve been the executive of a county that’s larger than 10 states, so I don’t need any practice,” he said, also noting, “There’s only so much you can do as the county executive… The state runs so much.”
Freshly off reelection, Blakeman mentioned his cross-party support in heavily Democratic Nassau, seemingly contrasting himself somewhat with Stefanik, who has emerged as one of the staunchest defenders in Congress of President Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda.
“It’s very, very important that we win,” Blakeman said, “it’s very important in a state like New York that whoever’s running can appeal to independent voters first.”
While Stefanik was endorsed Friday by the New York GOP chair, as well as a dozen state lawmakers, Blakeman, 70, said he’s also received encouragement to run from business, community and religious leaders across the state.
Stefanik, 41, has teased a run for months, often castigating Hochul, 67, as the “worst governor in America." She's also assailed Hochul for endorsing the ascendent, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, now the mayor-elect of New York City.
“Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to Fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to Save New York,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.