New York GOP Rejects Claims on Blakeman’s Long Island ‘Militia’

Bruce Blakeman’s uphill bid for governor of New York may be further complicated by litigation over an armed citizen force the Nassau County Republican launched two years ago.

His GOP allies, however, say voters won’t mind.

Blakeman, who overwhelmingly won reelection as county executive in November, was accused in a filing by Democratic legislators this week of allowing unqualified acquaintances to join an unauthorized “militia” program, according to state court filings. A staunch Trump ally, Blakeman already faces a steep race against Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), whose popularity has climbed in recent polling.

Yet Blakeman’s Republican supporters are dismissing the charges as a political stunt and have said the police force could bolster Blakeman’s platform of enhancing public safety. Blakeman frequently touts the low-crime rate of suburban, dense Nassau County on Long Island.

“I think it might not faze many people,” said Gerard Kassar, chair of the New York state Conservative Party, in an interview. “Bruce Blakeman is properly regarded as one of the stronger law enforcement county executives in the state and possibly the region.”

“It’s totally political,” Kassar said of the litigation.

Blakeman’s campaign refuted allegations of unqualified militia members. Spokesperson Chris Boyle said in a statement that deputies went through an “extensive” background check, received criminal law and firearm training, and have valid gun permits.

Boyle said those in the program “are respected members of the community, many of whom served in the military and professional law enforcement.”

The program has been roiling Nassau County residents since March 2024, when Blakeman unveiled his plan to deputize armed citizens during a declared state of emergency. Democratic lawmakers immediately criticized the program.

Hochul’s campaign seized on the allegations of unqualified members. Spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki called the program “a bizarre far-right proposal to undermine law enforcement” in a Wednesday statement. Hochul has positioned herself as a strong public safety advocate, though Blakeman has criticized her as paying “lip service” to the issue.

A Siena pollreleased Wednesday placed Hochul at 51% favorability, though it noted she faces some headwinds among male and downstate suburban voters.

“According to these court records, Bruce Blakeman allegedly managed to do something even more MAGA than creating an armed citizen militia that answers to him, not law enforcement – he stocked it with unqualified friends, family, and civilians with arrest records,” Radulovacki said.

Assemblymember Michael Durso, a Nassau County Republican, said he hadn’t heard of internal issues within the militia and said he didn’t believe the court case would impact Blakeman’s viability among voters.

Durso pointed to Blakeman’s victory in November with about 55% of the vote, after which Trump called Blakeman to congratulate him. The president later endorsed Blakeman.

“Right now everything’s on the table politically,” Durso said. “They’re going to look for anything to go after the county executive.”