Last week, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) made the shocking announcement that not only is she dropping out of the race for governor of New York in 2026, but she also won’t be running for re-election to Congress. It represented a surprising fall for the woman who, at one point, was named Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, but will now be left without a job in politics.
Stefanik’s departure left only Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as a GOP contender, and now he officially has Trump’s backing.
Trump has endorsed Blakeman for governor of New York, the state where the president lived for most of his life. He announced the endorsement on Truth Social.
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“Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning. As Nassau County Executive, he is working tirelessly with the Brave Heroes of ICE, Border Patrol, and Law Enforcement to Keep Our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Community, and Ensure LAW AND ORDER,” Trump said in the post, using the same language he typically uses for endorsements.
“As your next Governor, Bruce will continue to fight hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes, and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment!”
Trump endorses Bruce Blakeman for NY governor — a day after GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik dropped out of race. Read today’s cover here: https://t.co/PqbF8Fyj8u pic.twitter.com/YZaExBRk5k
— New York Post (@nypost) December 21, 2025
“Bruce Blakeman is a FANTASTIC guy, will win the big November Election and, without hesitation, has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Governor of the ONCE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK (IT CAN BE GREAT AGAIN!). BRUCE BLAKEMAN WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!.”
Blakeman will have an uphill battle against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, running in a blue state in what’s likely to go down as a Democratic year. Per polls taken before Stefanik left the rise, Hochul held a healthy, double-digit lead over both Republican candidate, including a 25-point lead over Blakeman.
In 2022, Hochul won re-election with 52.85 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin, despite some buzz that Zeldin had a chance to win. Zeldin is now the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
