Pro-2A Sheriff Declines to Serve as Blakeman’s Running Mate in New York Governor’s Race

While Nassau County chief executive Bruce Blakeman hasn’t officially become the Republican standard-bearer in the New York governor’s race, it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that Blakeman will be the one squaring off against incumbent Kathy Hochul this November. According to the New York Post, Blakeman selected Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino as the lieutenant governor candidate; a move that should have Empire State Second Amendment advocates cheering. Instead, they’re holding their applause. 

Unfortunately, Giardino has declined Blakeman’s offer, which is good news for Fulton County gun owners but is also a sign of just how challenging the political environment is for Republicans seeking statewide office in New York. 

Giardino withdrew his name from consideration for the race for lieutenant governor, saying he didn’t think he could balance campaigning full-time while serving as sheriff, and it wouldn’t be fair to the people who elected him as the head Fulton County law enforcement official.

Sources told Spectrum News NY1 that Blakeman had decided to select Giardino to be his running mate.

The state Republican convention begins today on Long Island. Blakeman is expected to receive enough support to become the Republican nominee to challenge incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul this fall.

Giardino has been a Second Amendment stalwart as sheriff. After the New York legislature tried to gut the Bruen decision by imposing new standards for concealed carry applications and a wave of new “gun-free zones,” Giardino vowed to use his discretion as sheriff to prevent peaceable gun owners from facing charges. 

“I have to enforce it because I swore to uphold the laws, but I can use as much discretion as I want,” said Richard C. Giardino, the Republican sheriff in Fulton County, northwest of Albany. “If someone intentionally flouts the law, then they’re going to be handled one way. But if someone was unaware that the rules have changed, then we’re not going to charge someone with a felony because they went into their barbershop with their carry concealed.”

The Bruen response in New York also contained a “vampire rule” banning concealed carry by default on all private property open to the public, but before that portion of the law was ruled unconstitutional Giardino distributed signage to local businesses in Fulton County that welcomed lawful gun owners inside their establishment. 

Before he was elected sheriff, Giardino served on the bench, and boasted about adopting a “shall issue” system on his own, long before New Yor’s “may issue” regime was struck down as unconstitutional. 

Giardino was a great pick by Blakeman, and it’s a shame that he’s turned down the opportunity to join the Republican ticket. At the same time, I can  understand his hesitation in doing so. In addition to the impossibility of devoting time and attention to the sheriff’s office while campaigning for a statewide election, there’s also the uncomfortable reality that the New York Republican Party is considered a big underdog in this year’s gubernatorial campaign. In fact, Politico ran a lengthy piece earlier today documenting some of the problems the New York GOP is facing. 

Across the deep blue state, the GOP is being outraised and outpolled in key races. The reality is familiar enough for the perpetual underdogs — they haven’t won a statewide contest in more than 20 years. But their woes are compounded now by President Donald Trump’s abysmal favorability, prodigious fundraiser Rep. Elise Stefanik exiting office and a dearth of competitive candidates.

… Some New York Republicans appear to be cutting their losses or quitting politics all together. GOP challengers to Attorney General Letitia James and upstate Democratic Rep. John Mannion abandoned their campaigns last month. Stefanik bowed out of the race for governor and decided against running for reelection, leaving the state party without its brightest star and a figurehead who brought in millions for Republican candidates.

The New York GOP hopes Blakeman can drive up the vote in suburban stretches around the state, but the map is looking less competitive for Republicans this cycle. The GOP took a drubbing across the state in November’s local contests and lost a bellwether special election for state Senate in western New York last week.

The number of House battlegrounds has shrunk to four from seven in 2024. Of the four, GOP Rep. Mike Lawler’s race was downgraded to a toss-up, Democratic Rep. Josh Riley has 12 times more cash on hand than his challenger, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi’s main rival launched only just last week, and the former member of Congress who’d likely be Gillen’s toughest competition hasn’t yet decided if he’s running.

In this kind of environment, staying put in a reliably conservative county where you’ve established a good track record with voters makes sense, at least from a political perspective. It would have been great to see Giardino on the stump confronting Hochul’s anti-2A policies head-on, but I definitely understand why he’d decline Blakeman’s offer to serve as his running mate. Now the question is who will accept Blakeman’s offer… and what kind of track record will they have when it comes to defending our right to keep and bear arms?

Editor’s Note: The mainstream media continues to lie about gun owners and the Second Amendment. 

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