Full Breakdown
Blakeman’s Holocaust Comparison Ignites Political Firestorm in New York
6/26/2026, 8:08:42 PM
The Controversial Comparison
Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, appeared on Newsmax on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and called Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander “anti-American, antisemitic, even though he’s Jewish” and added, “this guy would be a camp guard in a concentration camp if he could.” Both men are Jewish. In a written statement released Thursday, Blakeman softened the language, saying “maybe camp guard was too strong, but certainly collaborator” as Lander “turned his back on the Jewish community.” The remarks surfaced as Blakeman seeks to unseat Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in the November election.
Background: Primary Race and Israel-Gaza Debate
Lander, former New York City comptroller, won the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District—covering parts of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan—defeating incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman. The district is one of the nation’s most Jewish. The primary centered on U.S. policy toward Israel’s war in Gaza; Lander described himself as “one of the Jewish members of Congress most willing to stand up for Palestinian human rights,” while Goldman was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Lander’s campaign was endorsed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and left-leaning Jewish groups, whereas Goldman received support from Democratic leaders including Governor Hochul and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Timeline of Statements
- June 24 (Wed) – Blakeman’s Newsmax interview, using the “camp guard” analogy.
- June 25 (Thu) – Blakeman issues a written statement, calling Lander a “collaborator.”
- June 25 – Lander replies, invoking “Never Again” and condemning the comparison.
- June 25 – Gov. Hochul calls Blakeman’s remarks “despicable” and “focused on division.”
- June 25 – Rep. Jerry Nadler, NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin, and the New York Jewish Agenda issue statements denouncing the Holocaust reference.
- June 25 – J Street and other liberal pro-Israel groups label the comments “corrosive and wrong.”
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Hochul said Blakeman “is not focused on what helps New Yorkers; he is focused on division.” Blakeman defended his remarks, insisting Lander “turned his back on the Jewish community” by aligning with “extremists who want to wipe Israel off the map.” Lander countered that supporting Palestinian human rights “doesn’t make me any less proud to be Jewish” and urged voters to reject Blakeman’s “far-right MAGA bigotry.” President Donald Trump endorsed Blakeman earlier in the year. J Street described the language as “corrosive,” while Speaker Menin warned that “the Holocaust must never be used as a rhetorical device in our politics.”
Criticism & Opposition
Rep. Jerry Nadler called the Holocaust comparison “a grotesque desecration of the memory of six million Jews” and deemed the remarks “disqualifying.” Menin, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, labeled the moral equivalence “unacceptable.” The New York Jewish Agenda echoed this sentiment, calling the weaponization of Holocaust memory “appalling.” Multiple Democratic officials, including Mayor Mamdani’s allies, condemned the rhetoric as inflammatory.
Data & Statistics
Recent public surveys released after the primary show Governor Hochul leading Blakeman by double-digit margins in the statewide gubernatorial race.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He’s anti-American. He’s antisemitic, even though he’s Jewish. This guy would be a camp guard in the concentration camp if he could. He’s a disaster.” — Bruce Blakeman, Newsmax interview
- “I don’t know where Bruce Blakeman went to Hebrew school, but I was taught that ‘Never Again!’ means never again to anyone,” — Brad Lander, statement
- “For Bruce Blakeman to invoke the Holocaust to smear a fellow Jewish man is beyond the pale — it is a grotesque desecration of the memory of six million Jews.” — Rep. Jerry Nadler, statement
- “The Holocaust must never be used as a rhetorical device in our politics, and this kind of moral equivalence is unacceptable,” Menin wrote.” — Julie Menin, NYC Council Speaker
- “He is focused on division. He wants to separate us.” — Gov. Kathy Hochul, interview
What’s Next
The November gubernatorial election will test whether Blakeman’s rhetoric alienates moderate voters. Lander is set to assume his congressional seat in January, where his stance on Palestinian human rights and Israel is expected to shape New York’s foreign-policy dialogue in the House. Both campaigns face heightened scrutiny over the use of Holocaust references in political discourse.
