Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is reportedly gearing up to throw his hat into the ring as a Republican candidate for New York governor, setting the stage for a potentially contentious primary against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Blakeman, who has been courting suburban voters with his Trump-aligned views and recent electoral success in Nassau County, appears to be positioning himself as the stronger contender to win over key demographics. In recent appearances across the state, including Albany, New York City, and Plattsburgh, Blakeman has touted his own grassroots support base as a key advantage in winning the governorship.
His comments echo his assertion that he has "a base and a springboard for becoming a governor that's much stronger than anybody else." This statement underscores Blakeman's confidence in his ability to build momentum among Republican voters, particularly those in the suburbs who have shown signs of growing discontent with the status quo.
Stefanik, meanwhile, launched her own campaign last November backed by former Gov. George Pataki and most of the state's Republican leadership, with Party Chair Ed Cox urging caution against a primary battle. However, Blakeman seems to be bucking this advice, putting himself at odds with party leaders in a bid for the top spot.
As a result, New Yorkers can expect a potentially heated primary contest between these two prominent Republican contenders. With Governor Kathy Hochul facing an existing primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, the 2026 general election is shaping up to be an intriguing and highly competitive contest.
Blakeman, who has been courting suburban voters with his Trump-aligned views and recent electoral success in Nassau County, appears to be positioning himself as the stronger contender to win over key demographics. In recent appearances across the state, including Albany, New York City, and Plattsburgh, Blakeman has touted his own grassroots support base as a key advantage in winning the governorship.
His comments echo his assertion that he has "a base and a springboard for becoming a governor that's much stronger than anybody else." This statement underscores Blakeman's confidence in his ability to build momentum among Republican voters, particularly those in the suburbs who have shown signs of growing discontent with the status quo.
Stefanik, meanwhile, launched her own campaign last November backed by former Gov. George Pataki and most of the state's Republican leadership, with Party Chair Ed Cox urging caution against a primary battle. However, Blakeman seems to be bucking this advice, putting himself at odds with party leaders in a bid for the top spot.
As a result, New Yorkers can expect a potentially heated primary contest between these two prominent Republican contenders. With Governor Kathy Hochul facing an existing primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, the 2026 general election is shaping up to be an intriguing and highly competitive contest.
I'm not sure what's more surprising, Blakeman throwing his hat into the ring or Stefanik still taking on the challenge 
. As someone who's lived through several elections in New York, it's clear that the state's Republican voters are hungry for change and would likely rally behind whoever they see as the most viable option.
. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out – I do hope we get some good debates on the issues that matter most to New Yorkers, like education and healthcare 
.
I'm kinda hyped for this upcoming gov race in NY! It's gonna be intense with Blakeman and Stefanik going head-to-head. Both of them have a strong following, but I think it's cool that they're both trying to bring a different vibe to the table. As someone who lives in Nassau County, I'm curious to see how Bruce's Trump-aligned views will play out with the rest of the state. Meanwhile, Elise has got some solid backing from the party leaders... fingers crossed she can keep them on board! 
. I think his Trump-aligned views might be a major factor in his appeal to suburban voters, especially if they're feeling left behind 
. On the other hand, Stefanik has been building her own grassroots support base too, so it's hard to predict who'll come out on top 
! Will Blakeman be able to build enough momentum among Republican voters, or will party leaders have his back? 
Blakeman thinks he can take on Stefanik with his Trump vibes and suburban vote bank? 
also what's up with party leaders saying caution and Blakeman just gonna do whatever? 
Anyway, this whole primary thing is shaping up to be a real circus, and I'm kinda excited to see how Stefanik's team responds to Blakeman's Trump vibes. It's gonna be a wild ride, but hey, at least the governor's office will get some extra entertainment value out of it 
The way to get started is by working on every day as if it were your last - D-Day 
The drama's about to get real in NY politics 
! Bruce Blakeman thinks he's got this thing in the bag with his "base" and all that jazz... Newsflash, buddy: building momentum takes more than just waving a Trump flag 
and having some suburban voters on speed dial. Elise Stefanik's been laying down the groundwork for years, and now she's got the party's bigwigs backing her up 
. Blakeman thinks he's got a strong grassroots base, but Stefanik has party backing and experience... this could get interesting 
The primary is gonna be WILD 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good Trump-aligned view? 
And Nassau County, where he won recently, is like the perfect test case for suburban voters who are all about... what, exactly? 
Blakeman's all about building his own "base" and being the stronger contender, yawn 
. Meanwhile, Stefanik is trying to do the right thing by following party leadership, but noooo, Blakeman has to go and buck that advice because... why not? 
. All this just sets the stage for a heated primary contest, because what's NY politics without a little drama? 
️. I don't know if either one will be able to unite the GOP, which is already struggling with internal divisions. Meanwhile, Hochul's primary challenge from Delgado might actually end up being a good thing for her - at least then she'll be facing a clear choice 
! Blakeman's Trump-tied views are gonna bring out some interesting conservative voters in NY. Meanwhile, Stefanik has already got the establishment backing, so she's looking pretty solid right now 
. But Blakeman's grassroots momentum could shake things up and create an interesting dynamic. I think we're gonna see a lot of infighting within the Republican Party over who's "the real" conservative candidate 
. I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT... MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE PRIMARY BATTLE 
. But hey, at least we get to watch this drama unfold!