Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Saturday he respects Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision to drop out of the New York governor’s race and step away from Congress, positioning himself as the top GOP alternative to Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“People don’t realize that when you’re in a public life, you live in a fishbowl,” Blakeman said on Newsmax’s “Saturday Report,” adding that a statewide campaign is “24/7 from now until Election Day.” He described Rep. Stefanik as “an excellent, excellent public official” and predicted “she’ll be back,” while emphasizing that “spending more time with your family is something that I think is on a lot of minds of people.”
Blakeman detailed his campaign’s focus on public safety, affordability, and opposition to New York’s sanctuary policies. He said he has expanded law enforcement capacity in Nassau County by hiring 400 new police officers and 200 new corrections officers over the last three years without raising taxes, while securing seven bond upgrades from Wall Street rating agencies for fiscal discipline.
Blakeman accused Gov. Hochul of transforming New York into a “sanctuary state,” criticizing what he described as billions in taxpayer spending on migrants. “She spent $4.5 billion of taxpayer money giving people who have been here for 15 minutes,” he said, noting they received free lodging, food, transportation and cell phones while being illegal immigrants. He stated that funds should instead support residents and core services like tax cuts, infrastructure investments, hospitals, and schools.
Blakeman also warned about New York City politics, vowing to confront permissive enforcement when Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani takes office. “Let me say this as governor, I will put a check on Mamdani if he doesn’t enforce the law in New York City,” he said. “I’m not going to let New York City go down the tubes.” He added that state police or the National Guard would be deployed if necessary to ensure lawful enforcement.
Blakeman warned that socialist-style policies threaten New York City’s economy, calling it “the financial capital of the world.” Referencing Winston Churchill, he stated: “As Winston Churchill said, socialism is nothing more than shared misery. And I want to make people in New York State happy again.” He pledged immediate action on immigration, public safety and cost of living if elected, saying he would end sanctuary programs while prioritizing economic development and affordability so residents have more money for necessities and luxuries.
Blakeman framed the race as a chance to reverse what he called failed policies in Albany, asserting New Yorkers want “safer communities” and a government that addresses everyday needs rather than “handouts and government programs that do nothing to make their lives any better.”
