What you may not know about Bruce Blakeman

Daily Point

Mirror, mirror ... who will get Trump's support after all?

Will President Donald Trump stop a divisive Republican primary in New York’s 2026 gubernatorial race? And if so, who will the president support?

After months of speculation, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman made his run for governor official Tuesday by entering the Republican primary against Rep. Elise Stefanik who currently has the support of almost 75% of the GOP’s county chairs in the state, although that can change on a dime.

Stefanik was handpicked by Trump to be the United Nations ambassador and then asked to withdraw her name over concerns about keeping the slim House GOP majority, while Blakeman has visited the White House to support the president's tariff strategy and most memorably held an umbrella for Trump during a rainy Long Island visit. Who has earned more MAGA loyalty points to win the coveted Trump endorsement to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul?

Stefanik, a congresswoman from upstate’s North Country, already has the national profile, but Blakeman has the Hollywood looks politicians need, at least according to Trump. In May 2024 at a rally in the Bronx, Trump said of Blakeman: “This guy is central casting. If I’m doing a movie on a politician, this is the guy I have playing.” Blakeman even has a dubious celeb connection (his ex-wife, Nancy Shevell, is now married to Paul McCartney).

At least since 1998, when he ran for state comptroller, Blakeman has sought to kick the dust of Nassau from his boots and stride into higher elected office. But he has failed every time in elections to get out of Nassau. The Point has created a helpful timeline below.

While Blakeman has been a fundraising juggernaut in Nassau, his totals pale compared to Stefanik. According to Federal Election Commission data, Stefanik has $10.9 million cash on hand. Blakeman, just a month removed from his reelection campaign where he wanted to roll up a big victory margin, once had as much as $3.3 million in his campaign account, but only $843,676 according to his latest filing on Nov. 30.

That fundraising gap may be too significant to overcome, especially when coupled with intraparty feuding. “He is calling around to the county chairs and the feedback he is getting is that they don’t want a primary," Ed Cox, the state GOP chairman, told The Point. “I just don’t see him doing a primary. There is just too much resistance from people he is close to."

Can Stefanik’s resources and national contacts — she did after all take down the president of her alma mater Harvard University — carry her past Blakeman’s made-for-TV good looks? If Stefanik gets the official nod at the state GOP’s nominating convention in February, will Blakeman make the effort to petition himself on a primary ballot? Or will Trump have to step in and pick a candidate?

In Blakeman's own words ...

On Nassau’s assessment system:

• “It’s on me now to fix it.” Newsday, 2021.
• “We fixed the assessment system ... It’s a nonissue.” Newsday, October 2025.

On bipartisanship:

• “... I think it’s important to bring in the opposition. ... I don’t believe in steamrolling anybody.” Newsday, 2021.
• “Stay out of Long Island.” To Gov. Kathy Hochul at a Long Island Association business breakfast in January 2024.
• “Sit down! This is my show.” Blakeman to legislators at a news conference about a funding bill. Newsday, March 2025.

On culture war issues:

• “I’m certainly anti-woke. I think the vast majority of Nassau County is anti-woke, too.” Newsday, 2023.
• “So we need to make it very clear that we are adhering to federal law in protecting our women from being bullied, quite frankly, by biological males.” Newsday, 2024.
• “In Nassau County, boys play with boys and girls play with girls.” News 12 Long Island, October 2025.

On running for office:

• “I’m not looking for another office. I love my job.” Newsday, 2023.
• “I’ll still do my job, just like everybody who runs for election ... I will have my finger on the pulse of everything.” Newsday, November 2025.
• “I always run as if I’m behind. And many times I have been behind.” Newsday, October 2025.
• “I think that anyone who closes the door on a potential opportunity is very foolish ... But really my focus is completely on being the best county executive I can be." Newsday, June 2025.

On illegal immigration:

• “We’re not raiding schools. We’re not raiding churches like they would have you believe. ... Anybody who would protest against removing criminals from our community is either very misplaced in their values or they just are stupid.” Newsday, February 2025.
• “We will continue to keep Nassau County safe, healthy, affordable and normal.” Newsday, March 2025.
• “We have the most comprehensive agreement with ICE in the United States ... And guess what? The people who love it the most are the Hispanic Americans, Latinos in Nassau County because they want safe communities.” "Fox & Friends," Dec. 9.

Talking Point

The campaigns of Bruce Blakeman

Nassau County's executive got statewide and national attention Tuesday when he announced his candidacy for governor, but he's no stranger on Long Island. Here's a trip through political campaigns past ...

1993: Blakeman is first elected to the Hempstead Town Council.

1995: Elected to the newly created Nassau County Legislature and then elected its first presiding officer in 1996.

1998: Named the Republican nominee for New York State comptroller. He lost in the general election to incumbent Democrat Carl McCall by a wide margin.

1999: Lost his seat in the Nassau Legislature in the November election to Jeff Toback.

2009: Sought the Republican nomination for New York City mayor. He ran an ad that hinted "I’m one of you" to residents of the five boroughs. "Bruce Blakeman is running for mayor! Bruce Blakeman grew up on the border of Queens and lives in Manhattan!” Watch it here.

2010: Ran for U.S. Senate, but came in third in a Republican primary won by Joe DioGuardi, a former member of the House.

2014: Ran for the 4th Congressional District, after incumbent Carolyn McCarthy announced retirement. He won the Republican nomination, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Kathleen Rice.

2015: Appointed to the Hempstead Town Council.

2021: Ran against Laura Curran and won Nassau County executive by a small margin.

2025: Defeated Seth Koslow in 2025 for the position again, this time earning 55.6% of the vote.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com, Rita Ciolli rita.ciolli@newsday.com, Amanda Fiscina-Wells amanda.fiscina-wells@newsday.com, Karthika Namboothiri karthika.namboothiri@newsday.com, with assistance from Newsday librarian Caroline Curtin

Pencil Point

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