Thursday, October 1, 2026
The 2026 New York State GOP Convention at the Garden City Hotel wrapped up on Wednesday with the nominations of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for governor and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood for lieutenant governor.
Blakeman criticized incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and pledged to cut income taxes for middle-class families, lower electricity bills by rolling back state-imposed fees and mandates, and redirect spending he said is being wasted to instead fund schools, infrastructure, hospitals and services for veterans.
“Taxes are soaring, electric bills and insurance premiums keep climbing out of control,” Blakeman said. “Crime is rising. Businesses are leaving the state in record numbers. Family and seniors are being priced out of their homes. New York ranks dead last for economic development and number 45 out of 50 states in the nation for affordability, and it's all a direct result of Kathy Hochul's failed policies.”
He vowed to oppose congestion pricing, protect Second Amendment rights and support law enforcement, including keeping violent offenders in prison and revisiting criminal justice policies such as cashless bail and parole standards.
“I will bring the experience, leadership and focus on public safety,” Blakeman said. “We will make you safer in your homes and your communities, and we will continue to fight for your families. I will be governor for all the people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, abilities and lifestyles.”
Blakeman also criticized state spending on services for migrants, said he would stand with police rather than efforts to defund them, and emphasized his record as county executive, citing tax restraint, bond upgrades and investments in public safety, including hiring hundreds of police and corrections officers.
Hood pledged to support Blakeman and help lead what he described as an effort to fix the state’s pressing problems.
Hood, now a third-term elected sheriff with more than 30 years of law enforcement service, framed his candidacy around public safety and government accountability. He argued the state has become less safe and more expensive under one-party rule, criticizing bail laws, anti-police rhetoric and high taxes that he said have hurt communities and driven families and small businesses out of the state.
Hood said he and Blakeman would stand with law enforcement and crime victims, cut taxes, rein in state spending and work to make New York more affordable. He emphasized his experience managing budgets and crises as sheriff and said he would bring that hands-on leadership approach to the lieutenant governor’s office while focusing on safer streets, good schools and a stronger future for families across the state.
“That's the kind of leadership that I'll bring to the lieutenant governor's office,” Hood said. “Bruce Blakeman and I are running to restore common sense.”
Former Gov. George Pataki, who served three terms from 1995 to 2006 and was the last Republican elected governor of the state, offered his support at the convention, highlighting the party’s push to win back the governor’s office.
“I've known Bruce for decades,” Pataki said. “He is someone who loves this country and loves this state. He is someone who has dedicated his life to public service to make the lives of others better. And he hasn't just tried. He has succeeded.”
Despite Republican support inside the building, Democrats outside made their presence known.
"We're here to send a message to our Republicans over in the hotel across the street that we're not going to stand for electing a man as governor of this state who's going to kowtow to Donald Trump,” New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said.
Blakeman is expected to face a challenge in the Republican primary from Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Larry Sharpe. That election is June 23. The general election is on Nov. 3.
