GOP Showdown: Bruce Blakeman Launches New York Governor Bid, Setting Up Primary With Elise Stefanik

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county executive from Nassau County on Long Island, is formally launching a campaign for New York governor, setting up a competitive Republican primary against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The move, first reported to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the plan, will pit two prominent allies of former President Donald Trump against one another in a high-profile race for the state's top job.

Where The Candidates Stand

Bruce Blakeman has drawn attention for several controversial local policies, including a county ban on transgender athletes using county sports facilities. He also created a volunteer law enforcement unit that critics have likened to a militia and ordered county detectives to coordinate with federal authorities as part of aggressive immigration enforcement efforts.

Elise Stefanik, who represents a conservative district in upstate New York, announced her campaign last month. She entered the race after former President Trump withdrew her nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing political considerations related to House Republicans' narrow majority.

National Figure Weighs In — Mostly

When asked about the emerging primary, Trump told reporters, "He's great, and she's great. They're both great people."

The comment signaled a reluctance to take sides in what promises to be a bruising Republican contest.

Campaign Responses

Bernadette Breslin, a spokeswoman for Stefanik's campaign, said Stefanik is the stronger candidate and charged that Blakeman is "putting his ego first to help prop up Kathy Hochul."

Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, is running for re-election but faces an intra-party primary challenge from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado — adding another competitive contest to New York's 2026 gubernatorial landscape.

The Republican primary between Blakeman and Stefanik is likely to draw national attention and influence from Trump-aligned networks, as both seek to position themselves as the party's best chance to unseat the Democratic incumbent statewide.