Previously Published in The Messenger
By Matt Meduri
The 2026 midterm elections could not be more crucial for New York, especially for the Republican Party.
At the top of the ticket is the gubernatorial race, set to be one of the marquee races of next year’s elections. Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) is gearing up for a second full term. She has drawn a primary challenger from her hand-picked Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado (D-Rhinebeck).
On the Republican side, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) announced in November after months of speculation. She was joined in the Republican field last week by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach).
The party hopes to flip control of the governor’s mansion and occupy it for the first time since 2002, when George Pataki (R) was elected to his third and final term.
For the State Senate, a traditionally Republican body, Republicans will need a net gain of at least ten seats to take the majority back, a mantle they lost in 2018. The GOP had held the State Senate from 1966 until the 2009 Senate power crisis. Republicans would retake the majority with a power-sharing agreement brokered with Independent Democrats until the 2018 midterms. The Senate is currently divided 41D-22R. Republicans hold all but one seat within the Suffolk delegation’s five seats. Of the Nassau delegation, the GOP holds all but one seat of the delegation’s four seats.
But the GOP Conference remains determined to claw back the gavels next year, optimally riding along the coattails of a strong Republican performer at the top of the ticket.
The Senate GOP Conference held their rally amidst regional roundtables on Long Island last week at Del Vino Vineyards in Northport, which played gracious and classy hosts to the entourage of spectators fired up to flip New York.
“We need to convince everyone together so we can be successful in 2026,” said Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James). Mattera reiterated his several rallying cries over the last year, including “we need to be vocal with Governor Hochul”, and “we need a plan, not a ban”, the latter in reference to Albany’s lofty climate and energy goals.
Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Cairo recalled the wise words of one of his mentors.
“Remember one thing: never lose the Senate,” said Cairo. “We finally lost the Senate [in 2018]. What happened? The world turned upside down,” he added, reminding attendees to “be hopeful” of their chances next year. Cairo hailed recent Republican victories up and down the ballot in Nassau County, with County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach) having been soundly re-elected and the GOP sweeping all five council seats in the City of Long Beach.
“These individuals who are serving in the State Senate are out there protecting communities. They are fighting for our jobs, to create prosperity and economic development for our children, our grandchildren,” said Blakeman. “Too many businesses…and residents have left New York State. We’ve got to bring them back. When you go to Texas and Florida, people are happy there. You walk around New York, people are miserable.”
Blakeman said that under Governor Hochul, New Yorkers have felt “cheated”, their “money goes to illegal migrants”, and “Democrats support criminals instead of victims.”
“I only have one issue with the Senate Republicans: there’s not enough of them,” said Blakeman.
Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia (R-Ridge) touted Suffolk’s ability to remain above the blue wave that made landfall in November, as well as the accomplishments of District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) and County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).
“Suffolk County and Long Island are the tip of the spear. We are the engine of the Republican Party in New York State,” said Garcia, adding that Suffolk delivered 160,000 more votes for Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in the 2022 gubernatorial race. He also added that Suffolk County, the largest suburban county in the nation, is also the most populous county to have backed President Donald Trump (R-FL) in all three of his White House runs.
Executive Romaine gave a very short, yet succinct speech: “Let’s win!”
In addition to the majority of the Senate Republican Conference, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) was also in attendance.
“The stakes are high. The future of this state is counting on you,” Ortt told supporters. “New Yorkers deserve the same chance to grow up in the state that we grew up in. Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) has to be the last alarm bell, the last wake-up call. Because if you don’t wake up with this, you’re not waking up.”
Ortt affirmed that the “only thing standing” in Mamdani’s “way” are the members of the Senate Republican Conference.