Bruce Blakeman
Nationalist
Republican
N/A
New York
Current Position: Nassau County Executive
Running For: Governor
Policy Positions
Economic Policy
- Against property and sales tax increases; eliminated $150 million in scheduled property tax hikes and pledges no tax increases as governor
Business & Labor
- For casino development; supports leasing Nassau Coliseum site to Las Vegas Sands for redevelopment including a casino
Health Care
- Against COVID-19 mask and vaccination mandates; signed executive order making masks optional in defiance of state mandate and opposed vaccine mandates for county workers
- For public mask bans; signed the Mask Transparency Act prohibiting use of masks to conceal identity in Nassau County (with exceptions for health and religious reasons)
Education
- For school choice and tuition aid; criticized Governor Hochul for blocking education scholarship and tutoring aid programs for children
Environment
- Against offshore wind energy mandates; pledged to cut electricity bills in half and opposes state energy mandates driving up electric bills
- For restoring local control over land use; opposes Albany overriding rural communities for industrial solar projects
Civil Rights
- For banning transgender women from competing in women's sports at county facilities; issued executive order and supported subsequent county legislature ban covering youth, college, and professional sports
Immigration & Foreign Affairs
- Against sanctuary policies; opposed Governor Hochul's sanctuary policies and cooperated with ICE to remove undocumented immigrants from Nassau County
- Against migrant spending programs; opposes state budget allocations for migrant spending and refused to participate in migrant housing programs in Nassau County
- For supporting Israel; held rally in support of Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack and has condemned antisemitism
- For arming Ukraine; organized a rifle drive collecting 60 rifles for Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion
Public Safety
- For increased law enforcement funding and hiring; hired 600+ new police officers as Nassau County Executive and proposes expanding this approach statewide
- Against New York's 2019 bail reform law; opposes cashless bail and has called for its repeal
- Against local cooperation bans with federal law enforcement; opposed Governor Hochul's intent to ban local cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies