WATCH LIVE: Trump rallies with New York's GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor of New York, is staking his bid on close ties to President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to appear with him at a rally in Syracuse on Friday night. The strategy puzzles some observers, since Democrats in the state have more than twice as many registered voters as Republicans, and Blakeman has courted centrists with a hard-edged message. Associated Press reporting carried by PBS NewsHour says he has hinted Democrats could steal the election, stressed fears of immigrant criminals and posted AI-generated videos portraying the state as dangerous and costly.

Former Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, warned that tying himself to Trump could push moderates away. Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, rejects that and says he is independent, noting he is pro-choice while Trump is not, and that he favors a guest worker program the president has not endorsed. Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul is stressing the connection, betting on Trump's weak approval numbers.

Blakeman became the favored candidate after Rep. Elise Stefanik left the race in December and Rep. Mike Lawler decided to seek reelection to the House. No Republican has held the office since George Pataki's tenure ended in 2006.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →