Jewish Republican Bruce Blakeman, the chief executive of Long Island’s Nassau County, announced on Tuesday that he will run for governor of New York.

The announcement sets up a Republican primary between Blakeman, who is Jewish, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has positioned herself as a bulwark against antisemitism since the outset of the Israel-Hamas War. The winner of the primary is expected to take on Gov. Kathy Hochul in the general election.

“Our state is struggling with high taxes, rising utility bills, and rising crime,” Blakeman wrote on social media . “New Yorkers deserve a proven leader who will Put New York First.”

Blakeman posted an accompanying video, which showed a clip of Zohran Mamdani on election night and later depicted him side-by-side with Hochul, signalling an i

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