Bruce Blakeman Likes His Chances Against ‘the Worst Governor in America’ and Her ‘Party of Extremists’

With six weeks to go in the New York Governor’s race, Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman says momentum is on his side — and he expects to defeat Governor Kathy Hochul on November 3.The reason? Growing dissatisfaction with a Democratic party that is unrecognizable to independent and moderate voters, he says, led by Ms. Hochul and New York City’s democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.“Basically, they are lockstep together,” Mr. Blakeman told The New York Sun in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “Zohran Mamdani is running the Democratic Party now. It’s a party of extremists, it’s a party of socialists and communists and anarchists and people who don’t want prisons, people who don’t want police to patrol neighborhoods. It’s a far-left party that is out of touch with most people in the state of New York, including a lot of Democrats.”Mr. Blakeman, who has served as Nassau County Executive since 2022, says the contrast between his leadership and the records of Mr. Mamdani and Ms. Hochul will enable the New York GOP to buck national trends.“I actually think that any kind of midterm hex, whatever that might be, won’t affect the races here in New York,” he said. “And by the way, when you look at my polling compared to Republicans in red states I think we are doing exceedingly well.”And that’s why he’s also predicting victory for his down-ballot running mates, including Saritha Komatireddy in her race against Democratic Attorney General Letitia James.“I think that we have the excitement, I think that we have the motivation, and therefore I think not only will I be successful but my team my running mates and all the down ballot candidates I believe will do extremely well,” Mr. Blakeman said.For its part, the Hochul campaign made it clear it would try to attach a President who is increasingly unpopular in New York state to Mr. Blakeman’s run.“Bruce Blakeman’s Donald Trump obsession is a problem for this state and for his campaign, and New Yorkers can see it,” Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said in a statement. “No one wants a Trump puppet in the governor’s mansion who will cut their healthcare, raise their costs, and let ICE trample their rights — they trust Governor Hochul’s record of investing in public safety, lowering crime, and putting money back in their pockets — and they know she’ll fight for their families, not Trump.”The latest Siena poll has Ms. Hochul with the support of 50 percent of likely voters, down by one point from her standing last month. Mr. Blakeman had the support of 41 percent of likely voters, an increase of two points from the poll taken in August.Despite the nine-point lead for Ms. Hochul, 49 percent of likely voters also told pollsters they believe the Empire State is on the wrong track.At the same time in 2022, Ms. Hochul led Republican nominee Lee Zeldin by 17 points. She went on to defeat Mr. Zeldin by six points on Election Day.“The president is a government official, the mayor is a government official and government officials meet with each other from time to time to talk about issues,” Mr. Blakeman said. “So, I understand that the president and the mayor had that meeting between government officials and I do that all the time, I do it with people that I have policy differences with. I do it with people in the Democratic Party all the time.”Despite Mr. Blakeman’s strategy to tie Ms. Hochul to Mr. Mamdani, President Trump continues to have a chummy relationship with the mayor. It was on display Monday at Gracie Mansion where Mr. Trump and Mr. Mamdani met. At a news conference following that meeting, the President continued to warmly praise Mr. Mamdani.While the Siena poll may be good news for Mr. Blakeman, it’s contrasted by a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday that shows Ms. Hochul with a far more sizable 19-point lead — leading Mr. Blakeman 58 percent to 39 percent.That poll also showed Ms. Hochul with a 46 percent favorability rating among likely voters. Ms. Hochul was viewed unfavorably by 43 percent of likely voters, with just 10 percent saying they haven’t heard enough about her. One-third of respondents had not heard enough about Mr. Blakeman, who has a 30 percent favorability rating with 36 percent of voters having a negative view of him.In the same poll of New York voters, the President has a 29 percent approval rating and a 66 percent disapproval rating. That doesn’t deter Mr. Blakeman from potentially campaigning again with the President.“Well, he has been to New York and I’m always welcoming him to New York,” Mr. Blakeman said. “I think it’s important when the president comes to your state and is supportive so I don’t know what his calendar looks like in the next 41 days but we would always welcome that.”Mr. Blakeman points to his governing record and 12-point re-election win last year in Nassau County — during a bad year for Republicans across the region — as evidence he’s the one who can end a quarter century of Democratic rule in the Executive Mansion.“I’ve created jobs and economic prosperity in my county,” Mr. Blakeman said. “Niche magazine says Nassau County is the most desirable place to live in New York State. And you look at my record, you look at her record and it’s very clear that I have a record of achievement, she has a record of failure and I think people are starting to see that.”Mr. Blakeman said he planned to continue criss-crossing the state making campaign visits to every region.“We’re going to every part of the state: Western New York, the Southern Tier, central New York, the North Country, Hudson Valley, Catskills, Southern Tier, New York City, Long Island I’m traveling to every single part of the of the state right now, every nook and cranny,” he said.And, Mr. Blakeman says, he feels growing momentum on the ground towards his campaign that’s missed by some polls and media coverage. “I think what you’re not seeing is the enthusiasm for change,” he said. “Every day another Democrat comes up to me and says, ‘Bruce I’m a lifelong Democrat, I’ve never voted Republican before in my life, but I’m voting for you. We need to change, this state is in a death spiral.’”

Bruce Blakeman Likes His Chances Against ‘the Worst Governor in America’ and Her ‘Party of Extremists’

Bruce Blakeman Likes His Chances Against ‘the Worst Governor in America’ and Her ‘Party of Extremists’

More from the New York Sun

‘Beyond Irresponsible’: Republicans on Capitol Hill Denounce Trump’s Decision To Waive Russia Sanctions

Out of Adversity, a Japanese American Design Vision

The Tesla Roadster Can Really Fly, But It’s Not a Real Car Yet

Blakeman Hopes To Cut a Path to Albany Through Minority and Jewish Voters, and Hochul’s Unpopular Policies

With 20,000 Names Struck From Michigan’s Sex Offender List, Victim Rights Advocates Wonder What Good It Is

Sam Bankman-Fried Protected by Magna Carta From Being Fined Billions, a New Brief Argues to Supreme Court

A $45 Million Gift Leaves Malala Fund Flush but Critics Question Where the Money Goes

Police Shoot 10,000 Dogs a Year; Whether Anyone is Held Accountable Depends on the State

More from the New York Sun

‘Beyond Irresponsible’: Republicans on Capitol Hill Denounce Trump’s Decision To Waive Russia Sanctions

Out of Adversity, a Japanese American Design Vision

The Tesla Roadster Can Really Fly, But It’s Not a Real Car Yet

Blakeman Hopes To Cut a Path to Albany Through Minority and Jewish Voters, and Hochul’s Unpopular Policies

With 20,000 Names Struck From Michigan’s Sex Offender List, Victim Rights Advocates Wonder What Good It Is

Sam Bankman-Fried Protected by Magna Carta From Being Fined Billions, a New Brief Argues to Supreme Court

A $45 Million Gift Leaves Malala Fund Flush but Critics Question Where the Money Goes

Police Shoot 10,000 Dogs a Year; Whether Anyone is Held Accountable Depends on the State