Bruce Blakeman Unloads On Elise Stefanik After NY GOP Loss

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman lost his bid for governor to incumbent Kathy Hochul by a wide margin. He received just 39.7 percent of the vote compared to Hochul’s 60.1 percent. Blakeman took to social media on Thursday to blame Rep. Elise Stefanik for the defeat. He called her a selfish politician who did nothing to help his campaign.

A Public Feud Erupts

According to a post on X by Blakeman, Stefanik is an unhelpful, selfish politician who failed to support New York Republican candidates this year. He further noted that her otherwise undistinguished career featured only a single moment of glory. These sharp words came after Stefanik told the New York Post that the state GOP needs a total reset. She said the results speak for themselves after Democrats regained control of the Senate and Congress.

Stefanik had considered running for governor herself but dropped out when Blakeman entered the race. She received President Trump’s endorsement but stayed out of the New York contest. According to the New York Post, she never appeared at any of Blakeman’s campaign events or offered her support. Blakeman claimed he called her to ask for help but never heard back from her.

Stefanik Fires Back

Stefanik responded to the criticism by pointing to her own undefeated record in elections. She wrote on X that she knows feelings are raw after Tuesday’s result so she will cut some slack. She noted that she has never lost any of her seven elections and imagines it takes time to process such a loss. She also confirmed that she cast her ballot for Blakeman as well as the entire ticket.

Regarding her party service, she claimed to have raised more than $100M to aid Republicans nationwide and statewide. Stefanik told amNewYork that the state party apparatus is broken and needs to be built from scratch. She indicated she intends to extend some grace to Upstate regions, regardless of merit, during this challenging period.

Local Allies Weigh In

Republican Anthony Constantino, who won the race to succeed Stefanik in Congress, joined the fray. He replied on X with a blunt message: Bumbling Blakeman Has Been Exposed! This comment highlights the deep division within the local Republican ranks. Unofficial election returns show Blakeman even trailed Hochul in his own home turf of Nassau County.