Long Island Republican Bruce Blakeman is running for New York governor

Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is running for governor of New York. Blakeman announced his candidacy on Tuesday. His entrance into the race kicks off what is expected to be a heated Republican primary contest against Rep. Elise Stefanik. Both count themselves as allies of President Donald Trump, who calls them “both great people.” Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, faces a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. Both Blakeman and Stefanik now frame themselves as candidates who could appeal to moderate Democrats as well as Republicans, even though both have adopted the brash political rhetoric of Trump, who remains unpopular in New York.