Blakeman and Stefanik clash over support after election loss

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Rep. Elise Stefanik exchanged public criticism after Blakeman lost New York’s 2026 gubernatorial election to Gov. Kathy Hochul, disputing how much support Stefanik gave Republican candidates during the campaign. Blakeman wrote on X on Thursday that Stefanik had not helped New York Republicans. Stefanik responded that she had voted for him and the Republican ticket, and had worked to support Republicans, including Blakeman. Their posts followed comments Stefanik made about his campaign and the state party. In an interview published Wednesday, Stefanik described Blakeman’s campaign as low-energy and said the state Republican Party needed a major overhaul. Blakeman’s post said she had not lifted a finger to help Republican candidates and attacked her political record. Stefanik replied that she would give him some slack after the election defeat, noting she had never lost any of her seven elections. Stefanik also said she had campaigned for Republicans and helped raise more than $100 million over the past decade. That figure was her own account of her fundraising work. She called for Republicans to work together to rebuild support after...