President Donald Trump reportedly moved quickly Saturday night to reshape the New York governor’s race, throwing his full support behind Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman just one day after Rep. Elise Stefanik unexpectedly bowed out of the contest and announced she would not seek reelection to Congress.
In a Truth Social post, Trump offered a glowing endorsement of Blakeman while making no mention of Stefanik’s abrupt departure. Trump praised Blakeman as a loyal ally and highlighted his work alongside law enforcement and border officials, casting him as a hardline conservative fit for a state long dominated by Democrats.
“Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump wrote, before declaring that Blakeman had earned his “Complete and Total Endorsement” for governor of what he called the “ONCE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK.” Trump added confidently that Blakeman would win the general election and promised that he would “never let you down.”
The endorsement comes amid major upheaval within New York Republican politics. Stefanik, a close Trump ally who had been widely viewed as a potential GOP standard-bearer, announced Friday that she was exiting the race entirely and would not run for Congress again. Stefanik cited family considerations, saying her most important role was being a mother, and argued that a drawn-out Republican primary would not be an effective use of time or resources in a difficult state like New York.
Stefanik’s relationship with Trump has been close. Earlier this year, she was nominated to serve as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, a nomination Trump later withdrew amid concerns from House Republicans about their narrow majority and the need to keep Stefanik’s vote in Washington.
Before Saturday, Trump had declined to endorse a candidate in the New York governor’s race. Earlier this month, he told reporters that both Stefanik and Blakeman were “great people,” a comment made before Blakeman officially entered the race. With Stefanik now out, Trump wasted little time consolidating behind Blakeman.
Democrats responded by attacking the endorsement. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is seeking reelection, accused Blakeman of prioritizing Trump over New Yorkers. “Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for one reason: he’ll put Trump first, New York last,” Hochul spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said, claiming families would be left “to foot the bill.”
Chitika also took aim at the MAGA label, saying Blakeman should learn from Stefanik’s experience and arguing that candidates aligned with Trump cannot win statewide in New York.
Trump’s involvement in New York politics has already stirred controversy. In November, he drew attention when he hosted newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, at the White House. During a public Oval Office appearance, Trump repeatedly praised Mamdani, a move that undercut Republican efforts, including those by Stefanik, to portray Mamdani as a radical threat.
When asked about Stefanik’s claim that Mamdani was a “jihadist,” Trump flatly rejected the accusation and described Mamdani as “very rational,” telling reporters to direct questions about those remarks to Stefanik herself.
At the time, Hochul argued that Trump had effectively destroyed Stefanik’s campaign narrative. Polling appears to support that assessment. A Siena College poll released this week showed Hochul leading Stefanik by 19 points in a hypothetical matchup, while Blakeman trails Hochul by 25 points.
With Stefanik out and Trump now firmly backing Blakeman, the New York governor’s race enters a new phase, setting up a high-profile clash between Trump-backed conservatism and entrenched Democratic power in one of the nation’s bluest states.
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