Blakeman, Constantino Split on Trump in NY Races as 50% Canada Tariff Threat Looms
Updated
Updated · City & State New York · Aug 10
Blakeman, Constantino Split on Trump in NY Races as 50% Canada Tariff Threat Looms
1 articles · Updated · City & State New York · Aug 10
Summary
Bruce Blakeman is beginning to put distance between himself and Donald Trump, while Anthony Constantino is embracing the president almost without qualification as New York Republicans head into the midterms.
Blakeman, Nassau County’s executive and GOP nominee for governor, said he has “philosophical differences” with Trump on the economy, immigration and guest-worker programs and plans to detail them in coming weeks.
Constantino, running for NY-21, declined to criticize Trump even when pressed on the possible local impact of threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian exports, saying he trusts the president’s judgment and wants Trump to campaign for him.
That contrast reflects different electoral terrain: NY-21 has about 215,000 registered Republicans versus just under 133,700 Democrats, while Trump remains broadly unpopular downstate.
The split comes as Republicans try to hold Elise Stefanik’s North Country seat after Democrats added NY-21 to their target list, even as Blakeman is still scheduled to appear with Trump in Nassau County on Friday.