By Raheem Soto
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s gubernatorial campaign issued a sharply worded statement Tuesday criticizing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, arguing he would weaken Republican prospects in a matchup against Governor Kathy Hochul.
In the release, the Stefanik campaign claimed the Congresswoman entered the race with “historic support from voters across the state,” saying she secured backing from both the Republican and Conservative parties within 24 hours of her announcement. The campaign emphasized that Stefanik maintains support from a coalition of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters.
According to the campaign, public polling shows Stefanik holding a commanding lead over Blakeman. The statement asserted that she leads him by 70% in a hypothetical primary, including “beating him soundly on Long Island,” a region central to Republican turnout in statewide races. The campaign further argued that Stefanik is the strongest candidate to challenge Hochul, noting she has historically outperformed President Donald Trump on the ballot in New York.
The statement also highlighted Stefanik’s record of flipping a seat long out of reach for Republicans, as well as raising tens of millions of dollars to support GOP candidates across the state and nation. The campaign credited her with leading “the most effective attacks on the worst Governor in America, Kathy Hochul.”
Blakeman, meanwhile, was portrayed by Stefanik’s camp as a liability for Republicans in 2026. The statement accused him of being “anti-2A (the kiss of death Upstate),” and claimed he has previously donated to and supported “corrupt Far Left Democrats.” It also pointed to his history of losses in statewide, federal, and local elections before becoming county executive. The Stefanik campaign went further, arguing that “Bruce Blakeman is an early Christmas present to Kathy Hochul as he works to blow Republicans’ best chance to win.”
Blakeman Responds, Says He’s the Candidate Who Can Win
For his part, Blakeman publicly rejected claims that he would undermine the GOP’s chances, instead positioning himself as the Republican best suited to build a broad statewide coalition.
“I’m seeking the Republican and Conservative nominations,” Blakeman said. “We want to put New York first. We want to make it more affordable; we want to make New York safer and we want to make people in New York happy again.”
Blakeman argued that his electoral performance demonstrates broad appeal, noting he won reelection last month in Nassau County—a politically mixed region—by nearly 12 points.
He framed Nassau County as a microcosm of the state’s electorate.
“We’re going to win because in Nassau County, which is a mirror image of New York state, the demographics are almost the same,” Blakeman said.
The competing statements highlight the early fault lines in what could become one of New York’s most closely watched Republican primaries in years.
The Stefanik campaign statement was issued by Team Elise spokesperson Bernadette Breslin.
