Republican Bruce Blakeman spent a lot of his first term as Nassau County executive unofficially challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democrats. Now, fresh off a second-term win, he says he may mount a 2026 gubernatorial run.

But first, political strategists say he'll need to make his case to his own party leaders, and in particular, President Donald Trump. His biggest obstacle has emerged in Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), 41, who's already declared her candidacy, gaining a groundswell of support. That includes the backing of state GOP chairman Ed Cox who's already vowed "there will not be a Republican primary a year from now."

Political experts and insiders say a lot can happen before New York's Republican convention in the spring when the party's delegates from all 62 countie

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