Former New York City Council Member Bob Holden, a Democrat, has endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman for governor of New York and will co-chair a coalition called “Democrats for Blakeman.”
Holden made the endorsement at a Sept. 23 press conference with Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, in Middle Village, Queens, the area Holden represented on the City Council. Blakeman is challenging incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in November.
“I’ve been a Democrat all my life, well over 50 years,” Holden said. “So it wasn’t a difficult decision because of the common sense of Bruce Blakeman. If we go on four more years of Kathy Hochul, we are doomed in New York State, no doubt about it.”
Holden said he had worked with both parties during his time on the council, including through the Common Sense Caucus he founded.
“I worked with the other side of the aisle. I worked with the Republicans. I can work with anyone,” he said.
Blakeman said he hears regularly from Democrats who plan to vote for him and pitched his campaign as focused on costs and public safety.
“The issues that face the people of this state are not Republican issues. They’re not Democratic issues. They’re affordability issues. They’re safety issues,” Blakeman said. “Think about this. We’re the most overtaxed state in the United States of America. I haven’t met one Democrat yet who told me they want to pay more in taxes.”
Blakeman, who called himself a “pro-choice Republican,” has promised to cut state income taxes and cut utility bills in half. He said Holden’s approach to the council matched how he wants to govern.
“He started the common sense caucus because he knew that the way to solve problems is not by going to the far left or the far right, it’s coming to the middle and using common sense and being pragmatic about solving the problems of everyday people,” Blakeman said. “And that’s exactly the way I want to govern.”
Blakeman also noted that he was endorsed earlier this month by Bonnie Lautenberg, the widow of former Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and a Democrat.
“I want the Democrats out there who may be watching this press conference to know that I will be your governor, just like I’ll be the governor of independents and Republicans, people who just want a more affordable state,” Blakeman said.
Two polls released on Sept. 23 showed Hochul leading. A Siena poll of likely voters had her ahead 50 percent to Blakeman’s 41 percent, and a Quinnipiac University poll had her in the lead 58 percent to 39 percent. The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Democrat.
Hochul’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times by time of publication.
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