1 hour ago
2
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blasted the state GOP boss for saying there’d be no primary for governor – warning the race could turn into a Kamala Harris-style “coronation.”
Blakeman, who’s eyeing a run for the nomination, had harsh words for Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox who threw his full support behind upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik as she launched her gubernatorial campaign last week.
“I don’t know who appointed him the king of the Republican Party,” Blakeman said of Cox as he kicked off a speaking tour across the Empire State at the American Legion in Massapequa.
“But I can tell you this, we are not going to have a coronation like they had for Kamala Harris in the Democratic Party. That’s not what the Republican Party’s about.”
Harris, the former vice president, was quickly anointed the Democratic nominee to face Donald Trump last year after then-President Biden dropped under pressure after primaries had already been held.
Cox had praised Stefanik in a statement after she announced she was running against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“There will not be a Republican primary and a year from now, Elise will lead our team to victory over Kathy Hochul, end one-party Democrat rule, and make New York affordable again,” he said.
But Blakeman, fresh off a commanding re-election win on Long Island, insisted competition is good.
“I think we have to have competition, we have to see who’s the best candidate — and if it’s somebody else, that’s great, I’m fine, I can live with that,” he said Thursday while not mentioning Stefanik by name.
“But we shouldn’t coronate somebody, we should see who’s the best and strongest candidate to win and beat Kathy Hochul — and a lot of people are telling me, it’s me.”
A spokesperson for the state GOP stood by Stefanik in a statement to The Post.
“County Executive Blakeman has earned widespread respect for his strong leadership on Long Island. Elise Stefanik announced her candidacy along with the endorsement of an overwhelming majority of County Chairs around the state,” the spokesperson said.
“We have every expectation that she will be our candidate, we will avoid a primary and we will defeat Kathy Hochul a year from now, giving New Yorkers new leadership that prioritizes affordability and economic opportunity.”
Stefanik’s spokesperson said “on day one” the congresswoman earned “over 70% of the weighted vote of GOP county chairs and the support of the Conservative Party.”
“It is unfortunate that this prospective candidate is already attacking Republican county chairs and state officials across New York when they are more unified than ever in their mission to fire Kathy Hochul,” spokesperson Berndadette Breslin said.
“Elise is the only candidate in this race who has won every primary and general election, and she has done so by unifying Republicans, Independents, and Democrats with the highest voter turnout in the state. Her support is only going to continue to climb. Elise already is the most well-funded candidate and highest polling candidate in history, and that will continue to climb. And everyone knows it.”
Blakeman’s was set to make stops in Newburgh, Albany and then the tippy-top of the state in Plattsburgh on Thursday. He also chatted with New York City business leaders Wednesday.
He has touted his appeal to independent and Democratic voters that will need to back a Republican to defeat Hochul. He’s also said he’ll reach a decision about whether to jump in the race in the near future.
Both Blakeman and Stefanik have assailed Hochul’s left-leaning policies and are ardent supporters of President Trump, who has praised both of them during their careers in public service.
“Can we change our state? Can we make our state a better place to live? Yes,” Blakeman said.
English (US)