New York Republicans believe Long Island GOP success can translate statewide
Party leaders are speaking glowingly about the electoral successes of the Nassau GOP on Long Island and hoping that the same message and strategy can lead to statewide victories.
First Nassau. Then New York state.
That is what Republicans attending their state convention in Garden City say they are hoping for this election cycle. Party leaders are speaking glowingly about the electoral successes of the Nassau GOP on Long Island and hoping that the same message and strategy can lead to statewide victories.
"This is a blueprint for much of the rest of the state," said state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Niagra).
"There's 110,000 more Democrats here in Nassau County and yet Bruce Blakeman, Republican county executive, Annie Donnelly Republican DA, Republican majority in the Legislature, Republican Comptroller Elaine Phillips, they are leading a Republican government. That means that Democrats are voting for it, because they know that is a better way. Obviously Suffolk has the same thing," Ortt said.
Republican elected officials largely control both Nassau and Suffolk counties and the majority of town governments on Long Island.
Joseph Hernandez (R-Manhattan), who was nominated to serve as the Republican Party's candidate for state comptroller Tuesday, said a strong focus on public safety and a rebuke of socialist policies will appeal to voters well beyond county lines or partisan divides. Hernandez, a Cuban-American who speaks passionately about escaping the Communist regime in Havana as a child, ran for mayor last year and lost to Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani.
"I think its all about common sense. It's about real accountability and I think Bruce has done a really good job in that regard. I think we just need to translate that to Albany and we will do fine," Hernandez said.
State Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), who was just elected by his GOP peers as the new minority leader in the state Assembly, pointed to Blakeman's re-election as Nassau County executive in November as a way for Republicans to chart a path forward in the governor's race.
"It very much mirrors what he's done in Nassau County, focusing on lower taxes, focusing on public safety," Ra told News 12.
"Bruce won re-election by 12 points. He did that by not ignoring any community. Getting out there, speaking with the people, he did very well with different ethnic communities. We're looking to duplicate that across New York state."
Blakeman is expected to be formally nominated as his party's choice for governor when the GOP convention wraps up on Wednesday.
