From Nassau County to Albany: Blakeman's Case for Governor

Bruce Blakeman Age: 71 Political Party: Republican Current Position: Nassau County Executive Residence: Atlantic Beach, Nassau County Opponent: Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul Running Mate: Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood

The year was 2002. That's the last time a Republican won the race for Governor in New York. George Pataki defeated Democrat H. Carl McCall. Since that election 24 years ago, no Republican has won statewide since

Bruce Blakeman from neighboring Nassau County hopes to change that.

Blakeman is campaigning on a platform of lower taxes, cheaper energy, cracking down on illegal immigration, and backing the blue.

The 71-year-old attorney began his political career in 1995 as a Nassau County legislator, eventually becoming the Legislature's presiding officer. He later served as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

From 2015 to 2021, Blakeman served on the Hempstead Town Council before defeating Democratic Nassau County Executive Laura Curran in 2021. He won reelection in 2025 by 12 percentage points.

Blakeman highlights Nassau's designation as America's safest county in a national ranking. His administration also reports eliminating $150 million in previously scheduled property tax increases. As County Executive Blakeman says his administration has hired more than 600 law enforcement officers, expanded police patrols and opened a new police training facility.

His signature proposal if elected Governor: a $35 billion income tax cut eliminating state income taxes on the first $50,000 earned by individual filers and $100,000 by married couples filing jointly.

He proposes financing the reductions partly through cuts to migrant-related spending and Medicaid expenditures, reminding voters often that his opponent Kathy Hochul has spent billions on illegal immigrants.

On energy, Blakeman promises to cut utility bills in half by reversing portions of New York's renewable-energy policies, expanding natural gas production and permitting hydraulic fracturing in the Southern Tier's Marcellus Shale.

Blakeman pledges to end New York's sanctuary policies on his first day in office, expand cooperation between local police and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities, and facilitate the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.

His quest to ascend to the Governor's mansion will not be easy in "dark blue" New York State.

There are approximately 6,002,006 registered Democrats in New York State compared to 2,835,976 Republicans. The Pro-Choice Blakeman will need Democrats and the state's 3,187,610 "blank" voters, those not registered in a political party, to overcome this 2:1 enrollment disadvantage.