Overview
- Fresh off a landslide reelection, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said he is seriously considering a 2026 bid for governor after outreach from political, business and donor networks, promising a decision in the near future.
- Rep. Elise Stefanik formally launched her gubernatorial campaign, drawing an endorsement from the state GOP chair as Blakeman questioned her broader electability and touted his crossover appeal.
- Republicans swept Nassau County, retaining all countywide offices, winning all three town supervisor seats, and flipping the Long Beach City Council; Blakeman defeated Democrat Seth Koslow by more than 36,000 votes.
- Nassau leaders unveiled a marketing campaign inviting New York City residents and businesses to relocate, highlighting safety, schools and medical facilities, with a rollout planned in about two weeks and no cost disclosed.
- The urban–suburban divide sharpened as Nassau officials emphasized ICE cooperation, expanded law‑enforcement hiring and restrained taxes, contrasting with Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s plans to tax the top 1% for free busing and child care and to limit immigration raids.