New York State Conservative Chair Endorses Republican Bruce Blakeman for Governor

Gerard Kassar, chair of the Conservative Party of New York State, is backing Republican Bruce Blakeman for governor in the 2026 election cycle, stating that he anticipates their two political organizations will work together through Election Day.

In a January 5 statement, Kassar announced his endorsement of Blakeman’s gubernatorial bid in his capacity as state chair. He said county committees within the Conservative Party will still continue to meet and make their own decisions surrounding endorsements in the coming months, but expressed confidence that Republicans and Conservatives would otherwise join together in an effort to defeat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“Republicans and Conservatives will work hand-in-hand between now and Election Day to see that Mr. Blakeman is elected governor and that New Yorkers finally get the relief they need from the progressive hellscape that has become New York under Governor Hochul,” Kassar said.

Blakeman, who is the current Nassau County Executive, formally launched his Republican campaign for governor in December. He was first elected to his executive position in 2021 and was most recently reelected this past year. Blakeman also previously held seats on the Hempstead Town Council and served as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In both of his county executive runs, Blakeman appeared on the Republican and Conservative Party ballot lines under New York’s fusion voting system. In that 2021 bid, the number of votes he received on the Conservative Party line exceeded the lead Democratic incumbent Laura Curran had over him on the Republican line, making the party’s cross-endorsement decisive in the outcome. If Blakeman secures both the Conservative Party’s formal endorsement and the Republican nomination for his gubernatorial run, he would again appear on both lines.

The Conservative Party has frequently cross-endorsed Republican candidates, including backing Rep. Lee Zeldin in the 2022 gubernatorial election. However, the party has on certain occasions fielded its own candidates, including in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, when Irene Estrada appeared on the ballot on the Conservative Party’s line rather than the organization opting to back Republican Curtis Sliwa.