GOP NY gov pick runs from link to J6ers and Trump ‘secretary of retribution’

Source: Raw Story · Bias: Far Left

Summary

The Republican candidate for governor of New York was scheduled to speak at an event headlined by far-right extremists and rioters convicted over the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Raw Story investigation. Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive running against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, was featured on promotional materials for a January event associated with retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser.🇺🇸 Stay Awake America National Tour THIS WEEKEND 🇺🇸Mission: Unite, engage, activate local action for national impact!Join 17+ nationally recognized experts in health, civics, faith, education, and more, including Bruce Blakeman, Treniss Evans, Dr. Judy Mikovits, Amir… pic.twitter.com/M4thJBBUjy— The America First Warehouse (@americafirstwh) January 7, 2026 The Stay Awake America event took place at the Trump-themed America First Warehouse in Ronkonkoma on Long Island from Jan. 10-11, though ultimately Blakeman did not attend, said Teresa Helfrich, director of operations for the America First Warehouse. “He didn't end up showing up,” Helfrich said.“Apparently, he was really busy, but unfortunately, he did not come, and people were a bit disappointed, but we tried our best.”Helfrich said she was under the impression Blakeman was unable to attend because he was preparing for his inauguration the following day, for his second term as county executive. In a statement to Raw Story, Blakeman attempted to distance himself from the event.“Kathy Hochul told 5.4 million Republicans to leave New York,” Blakeman said through a campaign spokesperson, referring to 2022 remarks in which the governor named GOP figures including Trump, rather than every Republican in the state. “Now she’s inventing distractions about events I never attended and people I’ve never spoken to because she can’t defend her tax hikes and soaring utility bills. She’s so bothered by her record she’s becoming delusional. I’m trying to make New York affordable.”A poster for the event circulated by the America First Warehouse and Stay Awake America organizer prominently featured Blakeman as a speaker. ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊🔊 Special appearance America’s Tenor , Make Music Great : CHRIS MACCHIO pic.twitter.com/6CbqJQvU7Y— 4everYoung (@4everAYoung17) January 10, 2026 Flynn shared an X post promoting the event, which referenced Blakeman.Long Island will be the focus on January 10–11 as the Stay Awake America Tour comes to the America First Warehouse in Ronkonkoma. This two-day gathering brings together powerful speakers, live music from the Caspar McCloud Band, and a special tribute honoring Tina Peters. It is a… pic.twitter.com/aRkvt5D0Cw— General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) January 2, 2026 Also featured were Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers militia leader whose 18-year sentence for sedition was commuted by President Trump; Treniss Jewell Evans III, who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; and Ivan Raiklin, a Flynn associate who campaigns to punish Trump’s enemies.The event was advertised as a tribute to Tina Peters, a Colorado county clerk sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump is pressuring Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to grant Peters clemency.Blakeman did recently speak at the Queens Village Republican Club’s Lincoln Dinner, on March 1. That event honored John Eastman, a now-disbarred attorney who advised Trump and played a central role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, Politico reported. Lara Logan, a journalist who has spread far-right conspiracy theories, accepted an award and spoke at that event.In a statement, Blakeman denied knowing “who John Eastman is or what he stands for.”Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political science at the University of Buffalo, told Raw Story “association means a lot in politics,” and candidates make calculations about the costs and benefits of being linked with individuals or groups. “You can distance yourself quite a bit. Trump's been effective at it,” Neiheisel said.“It works for Trump. It can work for other people.” Amy Young, director and organizer of Stay Awake America, did not respond to requests for comment.‘Threat of Islam’Blakeman’s biography appears on the Stay Awake America website’s “past and present speaker list.”The January event at which he was advertised to speak promised more than 17 “nationally known expert speakers in health, civics, faith, education, threat of Islam in America and child sex trafficking.”Being associated with far-right figures doesn’t help Blakeman’s chances of winning in the blue state, Neiheisel said, adding that Republican gubernatorial candidates in New York “have to at least outwardly appear centrist to the bulk of voters, but that's not where the energy in the party is.

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GOP NY gov pick runs from link to J6ers and Trump ‘secretary of retribution’
Raw Story

GOP NY gov pick runs from link to J6ers and Trump ‘secretary of retribution’

Far Left

The Republican candidate for governor of New York was scheduled to speak at an event headlined by far-right extremists and rioters convicted over the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Raw Story investigation. Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive running against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, was featured on promotional materials for a January event associated with retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser.🇺🇸 Stay Awake America National Tour THIS WEEKEND 🇺🇸Mission: Unite, engage, activate local action for national impact!Join 17+ nationally recognized experts in health, civics, faith, education, and more, including Bruce Blakeman, Treniss Evans, Dr. Judy Mikovits, Amir… pic.twitter.com/M4thJBBUjy— The America First Warehouse (@americafirstwh) January 7, 2026 The Stay Awake America event took place at the Trump-themed America First Warehouse in Ronkonkoma on Long Island from Jan. 10-11, though ultimately Blakeman did not attend, said Teresa Helfrich, director of operations for the America First Warehouse. “He didn't end up showing up,” Helfrich said.“Apparently, he was really busy, but unfortunately, he did not come, and people were a bit disappointed, but we tried our best.”Helfrich said she was under the impression Blakeman was unable to attend because he was preparing for his inauguration the following day, for his second term as county executive. In a statement to Raw Story, Blakeman attempted to distance himself from the event.“Kathy Hochul told 5.4 million Republicans to leave New York,” Blakeman said through a campaign spokesperson, referring to 2022 remarks in which the governor named GOP figures including Trump, rather than every Republican in the state. “Now she’s inventing distractions about events I never attended and people I’ve never spoken to because she can’t defend her tax hikes and soaring utility bills. She’s so bothered by her record she’s becoming delusional. I’m trying to make New York affordable.”A poster for the event circulated by the America First Warehouse and Stay Awake America organizer prominently featured Blakeman as a speaker. ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊🔊 Special appearance America’s Tenor , Make Music Great : CHRIS MACCHIO pic.twitter.com/6CbqJQvU7Y— 4everYoung (@4everAYoung17) January 10, 2026 Flynn shared an X post promoting the event, which referenced Blakeman.Long Island will be the focus on January 10–11 as the Stay Awake America Tour comes to the America First Warehouse in Ronkonkoma. This two-day gathering brings together powerful speakers, live music from the Caspar McCloud Band, and a special tribute honoring Tina Peters. It is a… pic.twitter.com/aRkvt5D0Cw— General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) January 2, 2026 Also featured were Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers militia leader whose 18-year sentence for sedition was commuted by President Trump; Treniss Jewell Evans III, who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; and Ivan Raiklin, a Flynn associate who campaigns to punish Trump’s enemies.The event was advertised as a tribute to Tina Peters, a Colorado county clerk sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump is pressuring Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to grant Peters clemency.Blakeman did recently speak at the Queens Village Republican Club’s Lincoln Dinner, on March 1. That event honored John Eastman, a now-disbarred attorney who advised Trump and played a central role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, Politico reported. Lara Logan, a journalist who has spread far-right conspiracy theories, accepted an award and spoke at that event.In a statement, Blakeman denied knowing “who John Eastman is or what he stands for.”Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political science at the University of Buffalo, told Raw Story “association means a lot in politics,” and candidates make calculations about the costs and benefits of being linked with individuals or groups. “You can distance yourself quite a bit. Trump's been effective at it,” Neiheisel said.“It works for Trump. It can work for other people.” Amy Young, director and organizer of Stay Awake America, did not respond to requests for comment.‘Threat of Islam’Blakeman’s biography appears on the Stay Awake America website’s “past and present speaker list.”The January event at which he was advertised to speak promised more than 17 “nationally known expert speakers in health, civics, faith, education, threat of Islam in America and child sex trafficking.”Being associated with far-right figures doesn’t help Blakeman’s chances of winning in the blue state, Neiheisel said, adding that Republican gubernatorial candidates in New York “have to at least outwardly appear centrist to the bulk of voters, but that's not where the energy in the party is.

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