Festive convention masks internal tension for New York Republicans

Early '80s music blasted through the convention hall, as red, white and blue festooned seating areas by county and rank-and-file Republicans gave a full-throated cheer to every speaker.

But along the back wall of state Republicans' convention last week and in the refreshment area, some party soldiers were casting a different light on the party mood at the kickoff of the 2026 election cycle.

Divided upstate/downstate. Bruised about how the statewide ticket sorted out. Apathetic because of the current polls and the decision by some to quit the campaign before it ever started.

They swore it can be turned around in time to carry Republican Bruce Blakeman to victory over Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, despite his more than 20-point deficit in the polls, because Election Day is still nine months away.

They say that these rifts are typical "Politics 101," that the party definitely will unify now that the convention has concluded, that the rift is confined to "pockets" and will be fixed.

But they agreed the party has internal work to be done.

"There is a huge problem, especially upstate," said Chapin Fay, a Republican strategist and former Pataki administration member. Asked to name the problem, Fay fired back: "Apathy."

"Look how many people are here," Fay said, pointing to empty convention chairs. "They are just very frustrated. Look, I think Bruce Blakeman is our best governor candidate since George Pataki. But there is a structural problem with the party he is going to have to address."

"It’s bad. It’s very divided," added another longtime GOP campaign strategist who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the timing. "And Bruce Blakeman’s team hasn’t done enough to mitigate it — a throwaway upstate sheriff isn’t going to do it."

The strategist was referring to Todd Hood, the Madison County sheriff whom Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, selected to run for lieutenant governor after several other potential candidates declined.

Convention week

The nomination of Hood punctuated an unexpectedly hurly-burly week for Republicans as they convened in Garden City to nominate the party's statewide slate of candidates.

Blakeman won unanimous support, but some upstaters were still smarting over how his entry in the race came after many of them had lined up behind North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik, who quit the campaign just after President Donald Trump signaled he wouldn’t weigh in.

On the other hand, some Blakeman supporters were raising questions after the quick demise of the candidacy of Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino, who accepted but then declined an invitation to run for lieutenant governor.

Laura Loomer, a far-right online influencer and Trump ally had raised questions about Giardino briefly registering to run in the New Hampshire presidential primary, just hours before the sheriff withdrew his name from consideration for the lieutenant governor's post.

Blakeman quickly pivoted to Hood, but the convention was off to a rough start. Some lamented the choice wasn’t a fiery upstate campaigner like, say, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin (who, when his name was floated, said he had zero interest in the job).

The reverberations were felt even in Albany, where the Assembly Republican conference had to pick a new leader Monday.

Assemb. Edward Ra (R-Garden City South) was a front-runner and well-liked within the 47-member conference. But Ra allies told Newsday they worried through the process that the upstate rift would rankle the Assembly vote — although Ra was ultimately elected to the post.

There’s also a question of Blakeman’s impact on down-ballot races — not just on congressional contests but on county and town board races. This fall, for the first time, local elections (towns, cities, counties) will be held in an even-numbered year, following a new law backed by Hochul and Democrats. Pending a last-minute Republican lawsuit, the law takes effect this year.

Long Island Republicans have been saying that having Blakeman at the top of the ticket should boost turnout in key Nassau congressional elections. But the upstate strategist said many are concerned it will not be a boost north of New York City.

"They could’ve gotten upstate buy-in and that didn’t happen," the upstate strategist said.

The remedy for the rift? Blakeman and team "need to get upstate and talk to people, get buy-in," he said.

'Bruised feelings'

Other Republicans downplayed the rift, saying it can be quickly patched.

"I think there are some bruised feelings here but it’s not significant," said Peter King, a former Island congressman who attended the convention.

"These things always happen, and it should be taken seriously. But, at the end of the day, there is a lot to like about the ticket," King said. "The reality is Bruce Blakeman is now the candidate of the party and it’s on to November."

"Look at it this way: You didn’t see any organized opposition" at the convention, which means the grousing is all "inside baseball," said a longtime GOP strategist who supports Blakeman.

Jesse Garcia, the Suffolk County Republican chairman, said the party "demonstrated enthusiasm, energy and unity" at the convention.

"This is the first time in years, you’re not going to see a primary in any of the [Republican statewide] offices," Garcia said. "Blakeman has been crisscrossing the state, the state leader [Ed Cox] has been speaking to [county] chairs, I’ve been speaking to chairs. [Nassau GOP Chairman] Joe Cairo has been speaking to chairs and chairs have been speaking to us.

"Whatever those individuals are saying, in small pockets, this is a state committee. This is a statewide race and we’re going to include everyone," Garcia continued. "Because regardless of how we got here, there is one goal and that’s to fire Kathy Hochul."

Fay contended more footwork is needed.

"Blakeman and the entire ticket needs to spend a lot of time upstate, do a barnstorm tour maybe," Fay said. "I don’t want to say ‘easily’ but I do think this can be patched."

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy