Lengthy Island Republican Bruce Blakeman is placing his personal MAGA spin on his 2026 gubernatorial marketing campaign — vowing to “Make New Yorkers Comfortable Once more.”
The brand new marketing campaign slogan, hatched whereas showing on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Drive One,” comes because the GOP nominee — and present Nassau County Government — seems to be to extend his visibility statewide to assist shut a 13-point Siena ballot hole in opposition to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“[New Yorkers] desire a governor that’s going to care about them. They need a governor that may put New Yorkers first,” Blakeman informed Devine.
“They need a governor that may make them completely happy once more, as a result of they’re not very proud of Kathy Hochul.”
Devine responded: “I like that as a slogan: ‘Make New Yorkers Comfortable Once more,’” to which Blakeman replied “that’s actually what it’s all about.”
The Albany hopeful, who has been backed by President Trump, plans to turnaround the state, if elected in November, by mirroring what he’s already completed in Nassau County, he mentioned — touting his conservative report of being “robust on crime,” governing 4 years with out a tax hike, and killing a $150 million tax hike that his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran, had deliberate earlier than leaving workplace.
Blakeman mentioned he intends to run on his report as he works to spice up his identify recognition exterior Lengthy Island, calling the trail to closing the hole “a operate of fundraising” and getting round an expansive state the place, he famous, Nassau County alone is bigger in inhabitants than eight US states.
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Though he’s presently trailing Hochul within the polls, Blakeman mentioned he’s down lower than Lee Zeldin was — 22 factors — on the identical level 4 years in the past earlier than shedding to her in a nail biter.
His marketing campaign launched an inner ballot final week claiming he was down by solely 9 factors, and his personal monitoring has him forward within the suburbs and profitable extra help amongst voters within the metropolis than the Siena ballot indicated.
Blakeman additionally informed Devine that he’s the “just one that may cease” New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani -– citing the governor’s energy to restrict and even take away the Large Apple’s socialist head honcho.
“The one one that may cease Zohran Mamdani is the governor, and Kathy Hochul has demonstrated that she’s in mattress with him. She’s not going to cease him,” he mentioned.
However the Lengthy Islander has appreciable floor to make up each within the polls and in fundraising.
She presently has over $20 million in her marketing campaign struggle chest, whereas Blakeman has raised simply $3.2 million, in line with the newest marketing campaign filings.
Mamdani referred to as out the county government at an unrelated childcare press convention Monday.
“We’re speaking a few man who espouses a lot of what has diminished New Yorkers’ religion in politics throughout town and throughout the state,” Hizzoner mentioned.
“Somebody who seems to be at what ICE is doing and thinks it’s precisely what town must see.”
If he wins in November, Blakeman mentioned New Yorkers can assure he’ll put the screws to Mamdani.
“There’s just one factor that I can guarantee you with a 100% assure. … I’ll cease him,” he mentioned.
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However the Lengthy Islander has appreciable floor to make up each within the polls and in fundraising.
Hochul presently has over $20 million in her marketing campaign struggle chest, whereas Blakeman has raised simply $3.2 million, in line with the newest marketing campaign filings.
“We’re going to win,” an undeterred Blakeman informed Devine, though the duty simply bought tougher after Democrats on the state Public Marketing campaign Finance Board voted Tuesday 4-3 alongside social gathering strains to deny Blakeman tens of millions in matching funds over a paperwork technicality.
He attacked Hochul’s tenure in Albany as a “failure” marked by overtaxation, overregulation and “pro-criminal” insurance policies that he mentioned despatched residents fleeing the Empire State in droves.
“By the best way, I did go right down to Palm Seashore. I did go right down to Florida. I talked to these New Yorkers who left,” Blakeman claimed.
“They usually mentioned once I’m governor they’re coming again.”
A spokesperson for Metropolis Corridor didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
