President Donald Trump endorsed Long Island county executive Bruce Blakeman in the New York governor’s race, just one day after Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik dropped her bid and announced she wouldn’t be seeking reelection in the House.
“Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump posted to Truth Social over the weekend. “BRUCE BLAKEMAN WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Stefanik, Trump’s initial pick to serve as ambassador to the United Nations before he changed his mind in an effort to maintain the Republican Party’s House majority, said in a Friday announcement that she “would have overwhelmingly won this primary” but wanted to spare the state from “an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York.”
Stefanik previously served as House Republican conference chair since 2021 but resigned from the role after her ambassador nomination. Upon her return to Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson created a new role for Stefanik to serve as “Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership.”
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Nassau County Executive and longtime Trump ally Bruce Blakeman entered the governor’s race earlier this month, the first challenger to enter the race against Stefanik.
In a post on X responding to Trump’s endorsement, Blakeman said Trump “is driving down gasoline prices and slashing the cost of prescription drugs. Securing our borders has made America safer.”
“President Trump loves New York and we will be partners in making New York safe and affordable,” Blakeman posted.
The primary election in the race to succeed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is set for the end of June.
In a statement, Hochul campaign communications director Sarafina Chitika told NOTUS: “Blakeman should have learned a lesson from Elise Stefanik: MAGA sellouts don’t win New York, and they sure as hell don’t end up in the governor’s mansion.”
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