NY-GOV: Republicans Face Uphill Fight for N.Y. Governor: 'We're in Bad Shape' [View all]

Republicans searching for a path out of the political wilderness in New York will place their hopes in Bruce Blakeman on Wednesday, choosing a suburban county executive allied with President Trump as their nominee for governor.

In many ways, Mr. Blakeman, 70, is the party’s ideal blue-state standard-bearer. He has moderate views on abortion and won re-election in Nassau County last November when other Republicans across the country suffered steep losses.

But as the pomp plays out onstage at the party’s three-day convention on Long Island this week, Republican leaders are quietly fretting that backlash to Mr. Trump could undo the party’s recent gains in New York, and swamp Mr. Blakeman before the race really begins.

“Right now, we’re in bad shape,” said Alfonse D’Amato, a former Republican senator from New York, pointing to voter concerns about the economy, among other factors. “If it doesn’t turn around, we’re in trouble.”



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/nyregion/republicans-governor-blakeman-ny.html