Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Slams GOP Chair Ed Cox Over Endorsement of Elise Stefanik

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has sharply criticized New York GOP Chair Ed Cox for endorsing Rep. Elise Stefanik as the state’s Republican challenger to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Speaking to Spectrum News on Wednesday, Blakeman stated: “Cox hasn’t won. He’s lost virtually every race as state chairman and might need to look at his playbook or get a different one.”

In November, Cox endorsed Stefanik, describing her as “a unifier and a party builder with the brains, the guts and the resources to win statewide next year.” Cox also noted that she has “fought for our principles every day of her career, and never backs down,” calling her “the warrior we need to lead the fight against Democrats’ corrupt Albany machine.”

Stefanik, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump in the House, launched her campaign after months of speculation and is widely regarded as the early GOP front-runner for the nomination.

Blakeman has positioned himself as a candidate running against Hochul rather than Stefanik. He emphasized his focus on public safety and affordability, stating that “everybody wants the same thing: safe neighborhoods, low taxes, economic development, jobs, prosperity, and a better place to live for their kids and grandkids.”

Blakeman has drawn attention statewide for a string of high-profile, conservative-leaning initiatives in Nassau County.

The Stefanik campaign criticized Blakeman’s entry into the race, calling it “an early Christmas present to Kathy Hochul as he works to blow Republicans’ best chance to win.”