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Sunday, December 21, 2025
Trump endorses Jewish candidate for NY governor after Stefanik drops out
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US President Donald Trump announces he’s endorsing Bruce Blakeman, a Jewish Republican politician from Long Island, for governor of New York in next fall’s race, just a day after the president’s longtime ally US Rep. Elise Stefanik announced she was suspending her candidacy.
The endorsement, while not unexpected, could help ensure that Blakeman, Nassau County’s executive, doesn’t face a serious contender in his push to win the Republican primary and a chance at a likely faceoff against incumbent Democratic NY Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump said in a post announcing the endorsement on his Truth Social platform.
Blakeman’s profile has risen in Republican circles since he became Nassau County’s first Jewish executive in 2022. An ally of Trump, Blakeman has implemented conservative policies in the county like banning transgender women from playing on female sports teams in county-run parks and facilities, and striking a deal with ICE aiming to round up 3,000 undocumented immigrants.
Last year, Blakeman signed into law a controversial mask ban bill amid a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, during which many protesters would wear masks to protect their identity. He has also been vocally critical of Zohran Mamdani, neighboring New York City’s incoming far-left mayor, a harsh critic of Israel.
Blakeman is a member of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, an Orthodox congregation in Nassau County.
Stefanik, a pro-Israel stalwart, announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for governor and will not seek reelection to Congress.
The race between Stefanik and Blake had been expected to be competitive. Stefanik in announcing her decision said she wanted to avoid an “unnecessary and protracted Republican primary.”
If Blakeman wins the primary, he will be the second straight Jewish Republican from Long Island to face Hochul in the race for New York governor. She beat then-US congressman Lee Zeldin in the 2022 election.
The Times of Israel Community.