New York Republicans gathered on Long Island to formally nominate their slate of candidates for statewide office, rallying around a law-and-order and affordability message as they seek to break Democrats’ hold on state government ahead of the 2026 elections.
Party leaders, county chairs, state committee members and activists met Feb 10 at the Garden City Hotel to conduct official business and nominate candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state comptroller.
The convention comes as the field for governor narrowed further this morning, when Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado announced he was dropping out of the race, ending a brief and contentious potential primary challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, widely viewed as the party’s frontrunner after U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik suspended her short-lived gubernatorial campaign in December, is expected to secure the nomination tomorrow.
Blakeman said his campaign will focus on affordability, public safety and reversing population loss across the state.
“From Montauk to Jamestown, New Yorkers don’t feel safe, and they don’t feel like their money is going far,” Blakeman said. “We’re going to make this state safer, more affordable and a place people want to move to, not leave.”
Blakeman announced Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood — a veteran law enforcement officer — as his choice for lieutenant governor, citing the need for upstate representation and a shared focus on public safety.
Delegates also selected a nominee for attorney general following a contested vote. Saritha Komatireddy — a former federal prosecutor — won the nomination with 86.3 percent of the delegate vote, defeating Brooklyn attorney Khurram Dara, who received 13.6 percent.
In her acceptance speech, Komatireddy highlighted her experience prosecuting terrorism, organized crime and public corruption, saying she would prioritize public safety and restoring trust in the attorney general’s office.
“I’ve spent my life in public service and public safety,” she said. “New Yorkers are tired of seeing criminals released over and over again while families feel unsafe in their own communities.”
Komatireddy sharply criticized Democratic Attorney General Letita James, accusing her of politicizing the office. Dara, conceding the race, echoed similar criticism, framing his campaign as an effort to end what he described as “lawfare” and to address New York’s high cost of living and business climate.
At the top of the ticket, party officials stressed the importance of contested primaries and party unity heading into November. John Burnett, first vice chairman of the state Republican committee, said voters are seeking “fresh ideas and honest leadership” amid concerns over crime, taxes and out-migration.
More than one million residents have left New York in recent years, Republicans repeatedly noted, a trend they blamed on Democratic policies.
After the nominations, Blakeman praised the Republican ticket, including Joseph Hernandez for state comptroller and Komatireddy for attorney general.
Blakeman said Hernandez, a biotech entrepreneur, would bring private-sector experience and fiscal accountability to Albany, serving as a “watchdog for New Yorkers” and a partner in efforts to make the state more affordable.
“While Kathy Hochul’s policies have made New York less safe and too often put criminals ahead of victims, Saritha will crack down on crime, hold offenders accountable and work with me to restore safety and common sense across our state,” Blakeman said of Komatireddy’s potential refocus of the attorney general’s office.
Democrats currently hold all statewide offices in New York. Republicans said the Garden City convention marks the beginning of an aggressive effort to flip the state’s executive offices in 2026.
