Bruce Blakeman , a Republican county official in New York's City's suburbs, announced Tuesday that he's running for governor, setting up a primary clash with fellow Trump ally U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Blakeman, who has cast himself as a bulwark against the liberal policies of urban Democrats, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul as a “failure" in an appearance on the Fox News “Fox and Friends” show.

“I’m running for office to make people more prosperous, to make them safer and to make New Yorkers happy again," said Blakeman, the Nassau County executive.

Blakeman’s candidacy kicks off what is expected to be a heated Republican contest against Stefanik, a conservative from northern New York who President Donald Trump picked to be his U.N. ambassador , only to withdraw the nomination over con

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