Trump endorses Jewish Republican from Long Island for NY governor

After Rep. Elise Stefanik drops out of New York governor’s race, President Trump endorses Bruce Blakeman, the Jewish Republican executive for Nassau County.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump over the weekend endorsed a Jewish Republican serving as county executive of Nassau for next year’s gubernatorial election, after the previous frontrunner for the Republican nomination dropped out of the race.

On Friday, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that she would not seek the Republican nomination in the New York governor’s race, adding that she would also not run for reelection to Congress.

“While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family,” Stefanik wrote on her Facebook account.

Stefanik, a Trump ally, had been tapped by the president to serve as American ambassador to the United Nations, only to remain in the House amid concerns her departure could jeopardize the narrow Republican majority in the lower chamber.

A day after Stefanik’s announcement, President Trump offered his endorsement to Bruce Blakeman, the executive for Nassau County.

“Highly Respected and very popular Nassau County Executive, Bruce Blakeman, is running to be the next Governor of New York,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Saturday. “Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning.”

“As Nassau County Executive, he is working tirelessly with the Brave Heroes of ICE, Border Patrol, and Law Enforcement to Keep Our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Community, and Ensure LAW AND ORDER. As your next Governor, Bruce will continue to fight hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes, and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment!”

“Bruce Blakeman is a FANTASTIC guy, will win the big November Election and, without hesitation, has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Governor of the ONCE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK (IT CAN BE GREAT AGAIN!). BRUCE BLAKEMAN WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

Incumbent governor Kathy Hochul has led in hypothetical matchup polling against possible opponents, including Stefanik, except for a Manhattan Institute survey conducted in late October, which showed Stefanik with a one-point lead.

The last poll released before Stefanik’s departure from the race showed her trailing the incumbent by 19 points.

The same poll, conducted by Siena College, gave Hochul a 25-point lead over Blakeman, with all other polling showing Hochul with a double-digit lead over Blakeman.

While New York has leaned Democratic over the last 20 years – with Democrats winning every gubernatorial election since 2006 – the state has in recent years become increasingly competitive, with Hochul defeating Republican Lee Zeldin by just over six points in 2022.