With Rep. Elise Stefanik abruptly bowing out of next year’s race for governor, Long Island Republicans have quickly coalesced around Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as the party’s standard-bearer.
Stefanik’s announcement that she is suspending her campaign for governor and will not seek re-election to Congress clears what was shaping up as a bitter Republican primary in a state Democrats hope to hold.
Stefanik, a high-profile Republican and House conference chair, said “it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York.”
In the wake of her exit, Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia signaled full support for Blakeman, stating he “has shown leadership Long Island families can trust.” Garcia praised Blakeman’s focus on public safety and fiscal responsibility and urged party unity behind his statewide bid. “His record of delivering results in Nassau County shows he’s ready to take on Albany and restore common-sense governance for all New Yorkers,” Garcia said.
Nassau County Republican Leader Joseph Cairo, an early Blakeman backer, offered a robust endorsement, highlighting the county executive’s appeal and electability. “Bruce has proven he can win and lead—not just in Nassau County, but across New York,” Cairo said. “We need a governor who puts families first, stands strong on public safety, and fights for everyday New Yorkers. Bruce Blakeman is that leader, and I’m proud to support him.”
Blakeman, a Republican who was re-elected to a second term this year in a county with more registered Democrats than Republicans, has positioned himself as a candidate able to broaden GOP appeal in a deep-blue state.
State Republican Chairman Ed Cox echoed the local endorsements, urging fellow party leaders to unite around Blakeman and build momentum ahead of the general election against Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Stefanik’s departure and the emerging support from both Nassau and Suffolk GOP leadership mark a pivotal moment in the Republican contest for New York’s top office, at a time when the state is grappling with high taxes and rising crime under Hochul’s policies.