Bruce Blakeman, the Republican Nassau County executive and an ally of President Trump, is taking steps to launch a run for governor of New York in the coming days, according to three people familiar with his plans.
Mr. Blakeman did not respond to requests for comment, but the people said he could enter the race as soon as Tuesday. He was also scheduled to appear on “Fox and Friends” on Tuesday morning.
His campaign announcement would set up a potentially explosive primary clash with Representative Elise Stefanik, a hard-charging Republican who has already declared her candidacy against Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.
Ms. Stefanik had hoped to run unopposed to maximize her chances against Ms. Hochul in a Democratic-leaning state. Instead, she appears now to be headed for a fight that could drain meaningful resources and shift the focus away from Ms. Hochul.
The two Republicans share a deep affinity for Mr. Trump, but they come from starkly different parts of New York, different wings of the Republican Party and different generations.
Both are jockeying for the support of Mr. Trump, who indicated earlier on Monday that he would remain neutral for now.
“He’s great, and she’s great,” the president, a native New Yorker, told reporters at the White House before Politico first reported Mr. Blakeman’s intentions.
Mr. Blakeman, 70, is a political force on Long Island, where he just won a second term by more than 10 points as Republicans lost in many other swing areas across the country. But he has lost several statewide races, and has a history of working with Democrats that his likely opponent is prepared to use against him.
Ms. Stefanik, 41, comes from the state’s North Country and has veered rightward since Mr. Trump’s election. She has a powerful national fund-raising apparatus and has secured endorsements from party leaders across the state, including Edward Cox, the state party chairman.
Ms. Stefanik’s campaign quickly issued a lengthy statement on Monday attacking Mr. Blakeman as a spoiler who would help re-elect Ms. Hochul.
“Even those in Nassau County who are closest to Bruce Blakeman will tell you that everyone knows Bruce has no shot and is putting his raging ego first and New Yorkers last as he blows up the best opportunity in a generation to save New York,” said Bernadette Breslin, a spokeswoman for Ms. Stefanik.
Michael M. Grynbaum contributed reporting.
Nicholas Fandos is a Times reporter covering New York politics and government.
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