A politician from Long Island has become the first Republican to throw his hat in the ring for Kirsten Gillibrand’s Senate seat.

Bruce Blakeman announced his campaign yesterday.

He is a former presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature. He’s also a former commissioner of the Port Authority, and his ex-wife is Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Nancy Shevell.

Blakeman says he’s confident he could beat Gillibrand – or her potential Democratic rival, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford.

“I really don’t care who I run against. One’s a congressman from Tennessee and the other votes like she’s from Nebraska,” said Blakeman. “So it doesn’t matter to me. I’m fighting for the people. I’m not fighting against them.”

Blakeman announced he would run for mayor last year, but withdrew after Mayor Michael Bloomberg entered the race.

He says this time he’s in the race for the long haul.

(Source: NY1)