ALBANY -- Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a top ally of President Donald Trump, announced Friday that she is running for governor, saying she will make New York "affordable and safe.”

Her long-forecasted announcement sets up a potential battle with Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026, though she might have competition for the GOP nomination.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is eyeing a run too, said Friday that Stefanik has done a "great job” in Congress but played up the fact that he has won reelection in a huge county where Democrats outnumber Republicans and garnered significant independent voter support.

Blakeman said the party needs "a candidate that can win, that can show broad-based support ... and I’ve done that.”

In either case, the race shapes up to be between an incumbent D

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