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Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, is running for governor of New York State.\n<\/p>\n
Blakeman, who was re-elected county executive last month, launched his gubernatorial campaign Tuesday morning, pointing to what he characterized as experience in cutting taxes<\/a>, balancing budgets, earning bond-rating upgrades and investing in safety.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Yorkers are being hit from every angle \u2013 \u00a0rising prices, rising crime<\/a> and Albany mandates that make life harder, not easier,\u201d Blakeman, who President Donald Trump<\/a> labeled \u201c100% MAGA,\u201d said in a news release about his gubernatorial campaign.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m running for governor to put the people of our state first. It\u2019s time for leadership that fixes problems, protects families and makes New York affordable and safe again,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n Blakeman\u2019s entry into the race sets up what is expected to be a competitive Republican contest against fellow Trump ally U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a northern New York conservative. Stefanik entered the gubernatorial race in November. Her U.N. ambassador nomination by Trump was withdrawn due to concerns about maintaining the GOP\u2019s narrow House majority.\n<\/p>\n Trump has \u2013 so far \u2013 avoided taking sides, telling reporters this week \u201cHe\u2019s great, and she\u2019s great. They\u2019re both great people.\u201d\n<\/p>\n As county executive, Blakeman has pushed through a policy that bans transgender athletes from using county sports facilities, created a volunteer law enforcement unit that his critics have labeled as a militia and directed county detectives to work alongside federal authorities in Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown.\n<\/p>\n