NYS Court Officers Unions Back Republican Blakeman in Rare Gubernatorial Endorsement

New York State court officers' unions have endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, marking the first time in at least two decades that the organizations have publicly backed a candidate for governor. The Supreme Court Officers and Court Officers associations cited Blakeman's focus on public safety as a primary reason for their endorsement, while also criticizing the current state administration's policies.

At a press conference outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Patrick Cullen, president of the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, stated, "This election is about more than politics, it’s about public safety, respect for the rule of law." He added that Blakeman's record as Nassau County executive and his emphasis on supporting law enforcement align with the priorities of court officers.

Sgt. Thomas Hickey, who leads the state Court Officers Association, noted the rarity of such an endorsement, stating that union members could not recall a previous public endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate, let alone one from the Republican party. The union leaders expressed concerns about dwindling ranks within their professions and the state of courthouse security under current leadership. They claim that bail reform laws have led to a "revolving door of justice," with disruptive individuals repeatedly returning to courthouses after committing crimes.

Hickey also pointed to outdated metal detectors at courthouse entrances, which he claims are easily bypassed and unable to detect certain weapons. "These people are bringing in 4D weapons that are not picked up by magnetometers," he said. "So, what you have is a situation where there’s less court officers because we’re short staffed, and there are guys coming in with a knife that they can’t detect."

Blakeman, who is currently trailing Governor Kathy Hochul in polls, has centered his campaign on public safety issues. He has been a vocal critic of what he describes as underfunding of law enforcement by Democrats in Albany and New York City, and has blamed lax bail laws for the release of violent offenders. Blakeman argued that state funds allocated to supporting asylum seekers could be better utilized for law enforcement, the court system, infrastructure, schools, and hospitals.

The two unions collectively represent approximately 4,000 active and retired members who are responsible for patrolling and maintaining order in courtrooms across the state. Blakeman's endorsement by these unions highlights a significant shift in political alignment for a group that has historically not endorsed Republican candidates for governor.