President Donald Trump on Saturday backed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in New York’s Republican race for governor, stepping in a day after Representative Elise Stefanik ended her bid and reshaped the contest.
Trump announced his support in a post on Truth Social, calling Blakeman a “FANTASTIC guy” and offering what he described as his “complete and total endorsement.” The president praised Blakeman’s record as county executive, highlighting his alignment with Trump on immigration enforcement and public safety.
The endorsement quickly positioned Blakeman as the leading Republican contender following Stefanik’s exit. Her withdrawal removed what had been expected to be a high profile primary fight and cleared the way for Trump to rally behind a single candidate.
In his statement, Trump said Blakeman had supported him from the start and credited him with working closely with federal and local law enforcement. Trump wrote that Blakeman was committed to border security, combating migrant related crime, and maintaining what he called law and order.
Blakeman, a close Trump ally, entered the Republican primary earlier this month. His decision came despite earlier signals from Trump that appeared to favor Blakeman staying focused on his role as Nassau County executive after Trump endorsed his reelection to that post.
Blakeman’s entry into the race marked the first major challenge to Stefanik after she formally launched her gubernatorial campaign in November. Another potential rival, Representative Mike Lawler, opted not to run and instead sought reelection to his House seat after receiving Trump’s backing.
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On Friday, Stefanik announced she was suspending her campaign and would not seek reelection to Congress. She said she believed she “would have overwhelmingly won this primary” but chose to step aside to avoid what she described as a prolonged and divisive Republican contest in a state where the party already faces steep odds.
Stefanik previously served as House Republican conference chair, a role she took on in 2021. She left that leadership post earlier this year when Trump nominated her to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. After the nomination was later withdrawn, she returned to Congress without a leadership position.
New York remains a reliably Democratic state in statewide elections, and any Republican nominee is expected to face a challenging general election. Still, Trump’s endorsement gives Blakeman early momentum and signals where the president is placing his influence in the race.
Trump had praised both Stefanik and Blakeman just last week, describing each as a strong Republican. With Stefanik now out, his support has shifted fully to Blakeman as the GOP looks to consolidate behind a single candidate.
