Nassau County re-elects Trump-backed leader as NYC chooses socialist mayor

New York City also embraced the leftist politics of its elected mayor Zahran Mamdanivoters across the city line in Nassau County reaffirmed a very different vision and re-elected a leader backed by President Donald Trump.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blackman received a second term Tuesday night, extending his tenure as the county’s first Jewish executive. Blackman, A A close ally of Trump Who worked to combat anti-Semitism and other crimes and strengthen cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), won re-election as neighboring New York City turned to a self-described democratic socialist. Mamdani, in particular, refused to denounce the slogan “globalization of the uprising.”

“I just got off the phone with President Trump, and he was happy,” Blackman told the crowd at his victory party. “And I said to the president, ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done. We had confidence in President Trump’s policies, and the people of Nassau County wanted us to cooperate with ICE. They wanted to get criminals out of our county. They wanted it to be the safest county in America. Lower taxes.’

The mood in Nassau County was very different from the mood across the East River. In New York City, voters embraced Mamdani’s left-leaning agenda focused on housing, affordability and a “Trump-proof New York City.” In platforms listed on his campaign website, Mamdani pledged to freeze rent for all settled renters, build more affordable housing, introduce city-owned grocery stores, make buses free, and raise the minimum wage to $30 by 2030.

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While Zahran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race, Trump-backed Bruce Blackman retained his position as executive director of neighboring Nassau County. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo; Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

“Zahran Mamdani will fight Trump’s attempts to extort the working class, and will deliver a city where everyone can make a decent living. He will ensure the protection of immigrant New Yorkers by strengthening our sanctuary city apparatus: removing ICE from all city facilities, ending any cooperation, increasing legal support, and protecting all personal data. He will make New York City an LGBT+ sanctuary city and protect reproductive rights,” the “Trump-Resistant New York City” section Who reads Mamdani’s website?

While Blackman had the president’s endorsement, Mamdani had the backing of several top Democrats, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezD.N.Y. He was also supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Blackman received high praise from Trump just days before the election. The president called the county executive “100% MAGA” and said he is “doing a great job” in the position.

“He works tirelessly with the brave heroes of Law Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Border Patrol to protect our communities, ensure law and order, defend our perpetual siege (2nd Amendment), keep our borders now very safe and secure, end immigrant crime, and prevent Communism from destroying our once great cities. Bruce fights hard to cut taxes and regulations, promote ‘Made in USA’, strengthen American energy dominance, and champion our nation’s Gilded Age,” Trump wrote.

In 2024, just over 52% of Nassau County voters cast their ballots for Trump over the then-Vice President. Kamala Harris. The county has since seen the implementation of policies allied with Trump.

President Donald Trump walks with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman after arriving at Republic Airport aboard Air Force One on September 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, New York. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Most recently, Blackman spearheaded legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. While the New York Court of Appeals has since put the ban on hold, the passage of the legislation stands in stark contrast to New York City’s deep blue politics. Blackman pledged to push the law forward despite the freeze New York Post “Nassau County will continue to protect the integrity and integrity of women’s sports.”

Additionally, Blackman spoke last week with Fox News Digital about his county’s cooperation with ICE, saying that under Trump, Nassau County has increased its relationship with the federal immigration enforcement agency. He said the partnership with ICE has been a “great asset” in protecting Nassau County.

In his victory speech, Blakeman highlighted policies supported by Nassau County voters that distinguished their part of the Empire State from the Big Apple.

“Four years ago, we made promises. We said we were not going to be a sanctuary county. We said we were going to take the masks off the kids and stop persecuting our kids here in Nassau County. We said we were not going to raise taxes. We haven’t raised taxes a dime in four years. That’s a pretty good record. And we’ve had seven bond upgrades,” Blackman said.

New York leader pledges more cops and tougher ice law enforcement if New York City elects a socialist mayor

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blackman speaks during a news conference in Mineola, New York, on Wednesday. March 6, 2024. (Philip Marcelo, AP File/Photo)

“We are the safest county in America! I want to thank the PBA, SOA, DAI, corrections officers, and all of our law enforcement professionals for keeping us safe every day. Thank you to every one of them,” he added. “We have the greatest police department in the world, led by our great Commissioner Pat Ryder. We are also fortunate to have so many volunteer firefighters and EMTs keeping us safe here in Nassau County. Thank you and God bless you for all you do. Thank you to all the unions that have supported us, the hardworking men and women of Nassau County. Thank you to our construction trades.”

At the end of his victory speech, Blakeman echoed Trump and used one of the president’s most famous phrases: “Fight, fight, fight!”

“We will continue the work we have begun to make us a more prosperous county, to create jobs, economic development, lower taxes, support our law enforcement, and continue to make this the best place to live in all of New York State. Leadership is important, and we have great leaders. So, to each and every one of you, once again, my sincerest thanks, and may God bless you all, and may God bless this great United States of America. Fight, fight, fight!”

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Blakeman is a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He defeated incumbent Democratic nominee Laura Curran in the 2021 election and took office in 2022.

Fox News Digital’s Ryan Morek contributed to this report.