Trump Backs Blakeman in Nassau Speech as Siena Poll Shows Hochul Up 10 Points
Updated
Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 14
Trump Backs Blakeman in Nassau Speech as Siena Poll Shows Hochul Up 10 Points
3 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · Aug 14
Summary
Hundreds of supporters and protesters gathered in Nassau County before Trump’s 3 p.m. Long Island speech, where he endorsed County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s run against Gov. Kathy Hochul.
At the David Mack Center, Trump framed the appearance around crime, praising Nassau as the safest county and citing a 9.3% national drop in violent crime and an 18.1% fall in murders in preliminary 2025 FBI data.
Trump also highlighted the Bronx killing of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, stepping offstage to greet the boy’s parents and using the case to attack Hochul as weak on crime.
The political backdrop remains difficult for Blakeman: a new Siena poll shows Hochul leading 49% to 39%, though her advantage has narrowed from 20 points in June.