From the New York Post: Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman tapped a Utica-area sheriff to be his running mate in the race against Gov. Kathy Hochul — just hours after a previous pick supposedly got cold feet.
Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood accepted Blakeman’s offer to run for lieutenant governor Monday, shortly after Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino was said to have declined an offer to jump into the race, Blakeman told The Post.
“Todd is a solid guy. We’ll make a good team together,” Blakeman said.
Hood previously served 22 years in the Syracuse Police Department before serving in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. He became Madison County sheriff in 2018.
“His wife signed off. We have full validation,” Blakeman said of Hood.
BREAKING NEWS: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman taps Todd Hood, sheriff in Madison County, as running mate in NY gubernatorial race, source say.
#News12LI #Blakeman https://t.co/F5RelLFHWj pic.twitter.com/YRPbwfuv5T— News12LI (@News12LI) February 9, 2026
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) responded, “Amazing choice! Todd Hood is an outstanding member of law enforcement and a terrific person!”
Amazing choice! Todd Hood is an outstanding member of law enforcement and a terrific person! https://t.co/DqeR7aDXI7
— Claudia Tenney (@claudiatenney) February 9, 2026
Blakeman Said to Pick Upstate Sheriff Todd Hood for NY Governor Bid https://t.co/X3TBg4EEza pic.twitter.com/ZlyM0De4Jo
— Long Island (@longisland) February 9, 2026
In a recent speech, Blackman sounded the alarm, saying Kathy Hochul gave away over $5 billion to illegal aliens.
“That money could’ve been spent on cutting taxes, on infrastructure, on creating jobs, on hospitals, on our education… but she gave it away to illegal migrants who’ve been here for 15 minutes. It’s wrong,” he declared.
I am the only Republican running for New York Governor against failed radical liberal Kathy Hochul.
Donate to my campaign to fight crime, cut taxes, put New York First, and defeat Kathy Hochul: https://t.co/XjO5cEsVaC
— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) December 19, 2025
Blakeman has his work cut out for him. A recent poll showed Hochul leading in the race by a wide margin.
NEW YORK POLL – Governor
🟦 Kathy Hochul (inc): 54%
🟥 Bruce Blakeman: 28%
⬜ Not sure: 17%
——
DEM GOV
Hochul: 64%
Delgado: 11%
——
Net Favs
Mamdani: +16 (new high)
Hochul: +9
Schumer: -7
Trump: -30@SienaResearch (A) | 1/26-28 | 802 RVhttps://t.co/VzpU82bkA7 pic.twitter.com/9SAjmI7Sx5— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) February 3, 2026
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