President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in Syracuse on Friday alongside Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for New York governor, as part of Trump’s ongoing campaign appearances for GOP candidates across the country, according to a source familiar with the arrangements.
This visit follows Trump’s previous appearance with Blakeman in Long Island earlier this summer. The campaign stop raises questions for Republican candidates about the potential advantages or drawbacks of associating closely with Trump, especially amid economic concerns impacting voters and a challenging year predicted for the Republican Party.
Trump informed reporters that he has a busy campaign schedule, stating, “We’re scheduled to be someplace almost every night.” His engagement indicates a continued effort to leverage his popularity, although he has struggled to convert that into electoral success when he is not on the ballot.
Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul, Blakeman’s opponent and a Democrat, has been vocal about her criticisms of Trump and the influence of his policies on New York. “The assault on New York state because of these policies out of Washington has been brutal, and I’m the one doing cleanup, not Bruce Blakeman,” Hochul said.
In response, Blakeman accused Hochul of avoiding discussions about her own record as governor. “If I was governor for the last four years and I thought I did a good job, I’d be talking about my record,” he remarked during a campaign stop in Erie County.
Blakeman further criticized Hochul’s governance, asserting, “It’s Trump, Trump, Trump — first of all, Trump didn’t make us the highest taxed state, Kathy Hochul did. Our utility bills are seven times higher than the national average.”
Hochul countered his allegations by highlighting her administration’s achievements, including a middle-class tax cut and initiatives to enhance childcare accessibility and reduce auto insurance costs. “You can take any category that is creating a pressure point for New Yorkers, I’m working on it. Except for the ones that are generated by Donald Trump,” she stated.
Polling data suggests that Trump’s endorsement could also carry risks for Blakeman. While Trump has maintained support in rural Central New York, a recent Siena poll indicated that 51% of voters view his endorsement negatively, complicating the dynamics of the race for Republicans. Siena pollster Steve Greenberg noted, “The fact that the Hochul campaign is trying to tie Blakeman to Trump makes sense because Trump is so unpopular.”
Not all Republicans see the situation similarly. Anthony Constantino, the GOP nominee for New York’s 21st Congressional District, expressed support for Trump’s involvement, stating that Trump has accomplished significant things. He emphasized that Republicans should not shy away from Trump in light of economic pressures. “People are frustrated by gas prices right now, but I remind people that gas prices were higher under Joe Biden, but the people who have the solutions to reduce gas prices are President Trump and the Republican party,” Constantino commented.
Trump’s reappearance in Syracuse marks his first visit there in ten years, during which the political landscape has shifted. Although considerations of Trump’s endorsement are crucial for Blakeman, many believe his trip also aims to support Republican candidates in contested congressional races in upstate New York.
Additionally, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has emerged as a focal point in the gubernatorial race, with Republicans aiming to leverage his image against Hochul. Polls from last month, however, indicated that Mamdani enjoys higher popularity than Trump statewide.
