The New York State Democratic Party rolled out a fresh digital advertisement on Friday aimed at GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman, zeroing in on his close relationship with former President Donald Trump and the impact of federal health care policy changes. The 15-second spot, titled “Won’t Change,” arrives as the Nassau County executive mounts a challenge to Governor Kathy Hochul in the fall election.
The ad opens with a narrator declaring, “Bruce Blakeman won’t change,” then cuts to past clips of Blakeman voicing support for Trump. In one snippet, Blakeman says, “Donald Trump is a good friend,” followed by “I would never be disloyal” and “I stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump.” These remarks are drawn from a podcast interview with the New York Post, where Blakeman refused to criticize any Trump policies, likening it to private disagreements with his wife.
The ad pivots to health care, with the narrator stating, “Even after Trump raised health care costs by 40 percent.” This figure stems from estimates by Hochul’s office that premiums for roughly 140,000 New Yorkers could spike nearly 40 percent following Congress’s failure to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. The spot concludes with a stark warning: “He’ll never protect New York.”
The digital campaign is part of a broader seven-figure investment by the state Democratic Party, set to run on platforms like Peacock, YouTube, Roku, Hulu, and social media. Party Chair Jay Jacobs framed the race as a choice between a governor who fights Trump and a candidate who won’t. “It’s crystal clear that New Yorkers want a governor who will stand up and fight back when Donald Trump attacks New York, but Bruce Blakeman never will,” Jacobs said in a statement.
Jacobs further criticized Blakeman on health care, asserting, “While Trump sends health care costs skyrocketing, rips away coverage, and puts hospitals at risk, Blakeman is following his lead — he vowed to cut Medicaid even further in New York, and families can’t afford that right now.” The ad references Blakeman’s pledge to reduce Medicaid spending, a stance that aligns with broader Republican efforts to curb government programs.
Blakeman’s comments in the Post interview underscored his refusal to distance himself from Trump. “Well first of all, I would never talk about that because just like I would never disagree with my wife in public, if I have an issue with my wife, it’s something that we will talk about in private,” he said. “Same thing with my dear friends. And Donald Trump is a good friend of mine, and I would never be disloyal.” He added that any disagreements are handled privately.
A second clip from an Oneida County Republican Committee Dinner in December shows Blakeman boasting that he didn’t “run away from the president.” This loyalty is a central theme of the Democratic attack, which ties Blakeman to Trump’s record on health care and other issues. The strategy echoes ongoing debates within the party about how to balance anti-Trump messaging with policy vision.
Blakeman faces a steep challenge in the general election. Recent polls show Hochul leading by double digits in head-to-head matchups ahead of November. The race is shaping up as a test of whether Trump’s influence can buoy a Republican in deep-blue New York, or if health care and loyalty will become liabilities for Blakeman.
