Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has accepted the Republican nomination for Governor of New York, outlining his plans to address what he described as affordability and public safety issues under the current administration.
“I am honored to receive this nomination to be your next Governor of the great State of New York,” Blakeman said. “Millions of New Yorkers rejected Kathy Hochul four years ago, and after four more years of soaring taxes, rising crime, and reckless spending, families simply cannot afford her failed leadership any longer.”
Blakeman criticized Governor Kathy Hochul’s record on taxes, stating that there have been over $8 billion in tax increases during her tenure. He also highlighted higher electric bills in New York compared to the national average, attributing these costs to utility rate hikes and state energy policies.
He spoke against congestion pricing measures that charge drivers up to $27 to enter Manhattan. “In Hochul’s New York, you now pay a tax just to drive on a public road you already paid for,” Blakeman said. “And if she gets four more years, congestion pricing won’t stop in Manhattan — it will expand.”
Blakeman argued that government spending has not prioritized middle-class families or small businesses. He said: “What Kathy Hochul spends on waste, Medicaid fraud, and benefits for illegal migrants who’ve been here for fifteen minutes, I will redirect to better schools, roads, hospitals, infrastructure, and meaningful tax relief for the people who built this state.”
On public safety issues, Blakeman accused Hochul of supporting policies that release dangerous inmates and weaken parole standards. “Kathy Hochul has turned her back on the rule of law,” he said. “As Governor, I will stand with our police, not against them. I will fight to keep violent criminals and cop-killers behind bars, because the safety of our children and neighborhoods demands it.”
Blakeman contrasted his record as Nassau County Executive with that of Governor Hochul by noting he stopped a $150 million tax hike and invested in public safety measures such as hiring more than 600 police officers.
He also pledged several policy initiatives including cutting middle-class income taxes and defending Second Amendment rights.
Blakeman spoke about his family’s history of military service and his work supporting veterans’ housing programs. He reflected on his experience during the September 11th attacks when his nephew was killed in the line of duty: “I’ve seen what happens when government fails, and I’ve seen what leadership matters,” he said.
He introduced his running mates: Joseph Hernandez for State Comptroller; Saritha Komatireddy for Attorney General; and Todd Hood for Lieutenant Governor.
“Together, we will bring fiscal responsibility, accountability, and public safety back to New York,” Blakeman said.
He concluded by promising inclusive leadership: “We can fix this crisis. We can make New York affordable again. And we can make it safe again,” Blakeman said. “But it will take leadership that puts New Yorkers first. That’s the choice this November.”
Governor Kathy Hochul is a member of the Democratic Party who has served as governor since 2021; she is also New York’s first female governor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Hochul).
