STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After talking bridges and traffic on Staten Island, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman traded the backdrop of the Outerbridge Crossing for a table at Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville.
The Nassau County executive headed to the Richmond Avenue watering hole for lunch Thursday following a press conference where he pledged to replace the nearly century-old Outerbridge Crossing if elected governor.
Outside the Irish pub, Blakeman took photos with fellow Republicans Borough President Vito Fossella, state Sen. Andrew Lanza and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.
As the group entered, along with staff and family members, supporters and patrons who had gathered inside chanted “Bruce” and welcomed the gubernatorial hopeful to the borough.
“Welcome to Staten Island, Bruce,” a man sitting at the bar shouted.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman makes campaign stops at the Outerbridge Crossing in Richmond Valley and Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as part of his run for New York governor.
Blakeman made his way through the very crowded pub, shaking hands and posing for photos with patrons beneath the well-known wooden Tunnel to Towers Foundation United States flag near the back of Joyce’s.
The conversations quickly turned political. Blakeman discussed his support for President Donald Trump, his proposal to lower utility costs and the Outerbridge Crossing announcement he had made just a short time earlier.
But after a morning focused on infrastructure and the campaign trail, it was time for lunch.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has lunch at Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Blakeman met with supporters at the tavern following a press conference at the Outerbridge Crossing. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)
The group eventually moved into a back room, where Blakeman sat down for a Staten Island classic: a Joyce’s Tavern cheeseburger.
The lunch stop came as Blakeman looked to build support on Staten Island in his bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The borough, where Republicans have enjoyed considerable electoral success in recent years, could provide Blakeman with a friendly audience as he makes his case for governor.
“I love coming to Staten Island because it reminds me of my home on Long Island,” Blakeman said. “We have a lot of similarities.”