Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman said he plans to focus on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s dismal record including a “green energy scam” because his pro-choice stance negates a key Democratic talking point.

“It takes the abortion issue off the table,” Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, told The Post Sunday. “I’m a pro-choice Republican. It will help attract independent women.”

Hochul had hammered 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin for opposing abortion rights but this time Blakeman said she’s going to have to answer for her policies.

GOP gov hopeful Bruce Blakeman opened up about his key issues in the upcoming 2026 race. Michael Nigro

President Donald Trump backed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for New York governor Saturday. AFP via Getty Images

Blakeman will be taking on incumbent Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com

“Kathy Hochul wants to run on anything but her record. I want to run on her record,” he added.

Blakeman is now considered the likely Republican nominee after securing President Trump’s endorsement Saturday — a day after former GOP frontrunner and upstate Rep. Ellise Stefanik abruptly ended her campaign for governor in a stunning development.

Blakeman cited clear differences with Hochul to present to voters:

Blakeman opposes the “green energy scam”, the 2019 Climate Change law backed by Hochul and Democrats. He’s an opponent of costly ocean wind power..

He said he supports drilling for natural gas — fracking — along the southern tier bordering Pennsylvania to help lower energy prices and create jobs. “Drill, baby drill,” Blakeman said.

Push to lower state income and corporate taxes as Hochul faces massive pressure from the left of her party to hike taxes. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pushed for a tax increase to fund a massive liberal agenda and Hochul has faced chants from his supporters to fall in line. “I’m looking to cut taxes — not raise them,” he said.

Will rescind New York’s sanctuary state policy supporting undocumented immigrants who came here illegally on “day one.”

Crime is still a big issue, and plans to tie Hochul to the unpopular cashless bail and Raise the Age laws

Blakeman said he would be able to make inroads with minority voters, noting he received more than a third of the black vote in his re-election campaign as Nassau County executive last month, when Republicans typically get 10%. He also grabbed a big chunk of the Latino vote, he said.

Blakeman said he spoke to Trump before and after the Saturday endorsement, and insisted his association with the president will be an asset, not a liability, in deeply blue New York.

But the Hochul camp dismissed Blakeman as a Trump toady.

“Donald Trump said it best: Bruce Blakeman is ‘MAGA all the way.’ He’s sold out Nassau and tied himself to Trump’s toxic agenda at every turn — backing policies that raise costs, gut health care, and undermine abortion rights,” said Hochul Campaign communications director Sarafina Chitika

“New Yorkers don’t elect MAGA extremists that bow down to Trump and make their lives more expensive — which is why Backup Blakeman has lost every statewide race he’s ever run, just like he’ll lose next November.”

Hochul’s team also claimed that abortion could still be an issue, saying Blakeman opposed an  amendment to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution.

Her campaign emphasized she has cut income taxes for middle income New Yorkers and this year delivered $2 billion in “inflation refund” checks to residents, while paying for more cops to curb subway crime.

Hochul responded to criticisms of her energy policy by saying she supports an “all of the above approach” to support cleaner and more affordable energy.

Following discussions with Trump, Hochul recently approved the Northeast Supply Enhancement underwater pipeline — previously rejected by state officials.

Concerned about costs, she has also slowed down timetables under the Climate Change law, including stalling the implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Act that includes a controversial ban on installing gas stoves in newly built homes.

Blakeman, meanwhile, faces steep odds. George Pataki was the last Republican elected governor, winning a third term in 2002 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The non-partisan Cook Political Report said Stefanik’s exit from the race boosts Hochul’s re-election bid, and waters down the GOP’s already difficult odds of toppling her.

“Rep. Elise Stefanik’s withdrawal from the New York governor race reflects an increasingly obvious reality: Republicans are not in a position to flip the state next year,” Cook’s analysis said, shifting its rating of the contest from “Likely D” to “Solid D.”

A recent Siena College poll showed Hochul with a solid lead despite half of New Yorkers saying they want a new governor, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

Only 37% of New York voters polled by Siena University said they want to reelect Hochul, with a whopping 50% saying they want someone else.

But Hochul leads Blakeman 50% to 25%, and Stefanik 49% to 30%. The survey was taken before Stefanik exited the race.

Conversely, GOP officials said Blakeman, who is Jewish, will be able to raise the money necessary to run a competitive race, particularly from donors upset about Israel-bashing Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor.