Listen to Debra Messing, GOP and let the sensible center save New York

Debra Messing has been a Democratic darling for decades — campaigning for Hillary Clinton, donating to Cynthia Nixon’s run for governor, standing as one of Donald Trump’s fiercest Hollywood critics.And last week, she endorsed Republican Bruce Blakeman in his bid to unseat Gov.Kathy Hochul.Why? Practical reasons: climbing utility bills, tolls to drive into Manhattan and neighbors giving up and leaving due to Hochul’s mismanagement.And as an outspoken supporter of Israel who’s called Mayor Zohran Mamdani an “American-hating jihadist,” Messing has plenty of reasons for discontent with a governor who kowtows to him.“I was born here.

This is the city I love,” Messing told Blakeman.“And it’s not the city that I love anymore.”There are a lot of Debra Messings out there: lifelong Democrats and former progressives who look at the party with disbelief and growing alienation.I know — because I am one.That means there’s a golden opportunity to build a DSA-busting coalition of Republicans, up-for-grabs independents and disillusioned Democrats here in New York.It’s the only path back to the sensible center — where the people who pay the taxes, build the businesses, buy the homes and raise the children of this city actually live.Last year I crossed over to run on the Republican line against uber-progressive Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, to combat the crime-coddling policies that have made our city unsafe.“You’re the first Republican I ever voted for,” countless Manhattanites told me — and I got 100,000 votes, more than half of them from Democrats or independents.It wasn’t enough to win, but it proved that plenty of registered Democrats are fed up enough with far-left policies to vote for a Republican, even in the era of Donald Trump.And this year, Blakeman isn’t the only local Republican drawing interest from across the aisle.Caroline Shinkle, an outstanding GOP congressional candidate for NY-12 in Manhattan, was just endorsed by hedge fun...