Bruce Blakeman reveals one issue ‘off the table’ in NY governor race as he slams Hochul’s ‘green energy scam’

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman said he plans to focus on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s dismal record including a “green energy scam” because his pro-choice stance negates a key Democratic talking point.

“It takes the abortion issue off the table,” Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, told The Post Sunday. “I’m a pro-choice Republican. It will help attract independent women.”

Hochul had hammered 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin for opposing abortion rights but this time Blakeman said she’s going to have to answer for her policies.

“Kathy Hochul wants to run on anything but her record. I want to run on her record,” he added.

Blakeman is now considered the likely Republican nominee after securing President Trump’s endorsement Saturday — a day after former GOP frontrunner and upstate Rep. Ellise Stefanik abruptly ended her campaign for governor in a stunning development.

Blakeman cited clear differences with Hochul to present to voters:

• Blakeman opposes the “green energy scam”, the 2019 Climate Change law backed by Hochul and Democrats. He’s an opponent of costly ocean wind power..

• He said he supports drilling for natural gas — fracking — along the southern tier bordering Pennsylvania to help lower energy prices and create jobs. “Drill, baby drill,” Blakeman said.

• Push to lower state income and corporate taxes as Hochul faces massive pressure from the left of her party to hike taxes. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pushed for a tax increase to fund a massive liberal agenda and Hochul has faced chants from his supporters to fall in line. “I’m looking to cut taxes — not raise them,” he said.
• Will rescind New York’s sanctuary state policy supporting undocumented immigrants who came here illegally on “day one.”
• Crime is still a big issue, and plans to tie Hochul to the unpopular cashless bail and Raise the Age laws
• Blakeman said he would be able to make inroads with minority voters, noting he received more than a third of the black vote in his re-election campaign as Nassau County executive last month, when Republicans typically get 10%. He also grabbed a big chunk of the Latino vote, he said.
• Blakeman said he spoke to Trump before and after the Saturday endorsement, and insisted his association with the president will be an asset, not a liability, in deeply blue New York.
• He’ll be looking to broaden his coalition by reaching out to independent and moderate Democratic voters, he said.