Bruce Blakeman hits the campaign trail for GOP Rep. Mike Lawler in Rockland County

NANUET, NEW YORK — Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman brought his campaign for governor to the northern New York City suburbs on Sunday, speaking at a Rockland County event for fellow Republican Mike Lawler in a bid to win key centrist voters.

"Mike, his story and my story are about the same," Blakeman said of the GOP congressman at the Pearl River Elks Lodge in Nanuet, describing how both candidates won elections in places with more registered Democrats than Republicans. "Not only do we win, but we win decisively."

Blakeman and Lawler face a similar challenge of winning over independent voters and Democrats this November. Blakeman is running against Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, while Lawler faces a competitive race for reelection in his Hudson Valley district.

The dual appearance on Sunday was a smart strategic move for both candidates, said Republican strategist Mike Dawidziak.

"For Lawler, he needs to make sure he gets a big turnout and Republicans don't stay home, and that gets driven by the top of the ticket," Dawidziak said. " ... For Blakeman, you need more moderate and independent bona fides. You've got great support among the right, and you're going to do well there, but that's not enough in a state like New York."

Blakeman has made headway in his fight against Hochul, according to a recent poll from the Siena Research Institute, and he has a stronger hold over New York City voters than he did when he launched his campaign last year, according to the poll. But he's still well behind the governor and that Siena poll also showed that 64% of voters have never heard of Blakeman or didn't know enough to have an opinion. 

"He's got to do spectacularly well on Long Island, but that's not enough," Dawidziak said. Every public appearance, like the one on Sunday, will help Blakeman with name recognition, he added.

Lawler, seen as one of the most centrist members of Congress, long weighed a run for governor himself. His race for reelection is dubbed by analysts as a "tossup." Multiple Democrats are competing in a June 23 primary for the chance to run against him.

Blakeman and Lawler's home areas, where they each took home wins over the past two years, have roughly the same share of registered Democrats and independent voters.

While Blakeman has spent time and money slamming Democrats to win over Long Islanders who voted for President Donald Trump — the first Republican presidential candidate in 36 years to win Nassau County — Lawler's messaging is more moderate. He is one of three Republicans nationwide who represents a district that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024. 

But one strategy that has worked for both suburban candidates is to align their opponents with New York City Democrats they categorize as "radical."

"Folks, these aren’t your grandparents’ Democrats," Lawler said on Sunday. "The Democratic Party of JFK and Truman, and even Bill Clinton, is dead. It’s been replaced by an increasingly socialist party of [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani and AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx)]."

Blakeman, too, has focused on Mamdani. Last October, he handed out bright orange T-shirts that read, "Keep the Mamdani Madness out of Nassau!"

"This is typically what Republicans do when they’re in deep trouble. ... They try to find a boogeyman," said state Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs.

Blakeman and Lawler now face the larger Republican problem of Trump's shaky approval ratings, as gas prices continue to skyrocket nationwide amid the Iran war.

Blakeman, who has historically boasted about his relationship with the president, removed references to Trump on his campaign website earlier this month. On Sunday, Lawler made little reference to Trump in his remarks.

Speaking to Newsday shortly after the event, Lawler said, "Listen, I voted for the president. ... Where I disagreed [with him], I've said it. ... It's not a function of saying his name or not saying his name, it's focusing directly on the issues."