Why Bruce Blakeman says he's the better Republican to run for governor

And when he'll decide if he'll challenge Stefanik for their party's nomination.

Good afternoon — It’s Thursday and World Kindness Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stopped in Albany to chat with reporters as the Republican considers a run for governor.

• Here’s what he said, including what separates him from U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

• Lawmakers and environmental advocates are incensed by the Hochul administration’s decision to delay the All-Electric Buildings Act.

• Some lawmakers said the plan could backfire for Hochul in next year’s election.

• Hochul asked state agencies last month to find regulations that could be eliminated or revised. Here’s how that’s going.

• New York is proposing regulations that would expand access to outpatient treatment for substance use disorder.

Names in today’s CapCon: Bruce Blakeman, Elise Stefanik, Ed Cox, Donald J. Trump, Kathy Hochul, Emily Gallagher, Gabriella Romero, Al Stirpe, Carl E. Heastie, Blake Washington

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Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (Dan Clark/Times Union)

🗣️ Bruce Blakeman says he’s the better candidate to challenge Hochul. Here’s why

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman expects to decide if he’ll launch a run for governor in the next two to three weeks, he told reporters in Albany Thursday.

He’s first planning to travel the state, starting with Thursday’s pitstop in the Capital Region before heading up to the North Country. Blakeman is then planning to head to the Southern Tier and western New York next week.

“If I think the level of support is high enough, then I’ll jump into the race,” he said.

He started getting calls the night of last week’s election, when he was reelected, from supporters who urged him to consider a run, he said. Since then, it’s been on his mind.

The fact that U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has already been endorsed by state Republican Chair Edward F. Cox to be their party’s nominee to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s election hasn’t influenced him to rethink a run, he said.

“We don’t coronate candidates in New York state. The Democratic Party did that with (former Vice President) Kamala Harris and that didn’t work out very well for them,” Blakeman said. “The fact of the matter is that competition is good and I think I have the experience.”

He has a list of qualifications that he thinks voters across the political spectrum will be attracted to, including a record of flat taxes during the four years he’s been in office and being named the safest county in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

But he’s largely aligned with Stefanik on policy. I asked what would make Republicans better off with him as their nominee.