GARDEN CITY – The Bruce is loose.

Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman formally accepted the Republican nomination at the state party convention Wednesday — after a surprise video endorsement from President Trump rallied the crowd.

Blakeman blasted his Democrat opponent Gov. Kathy Hochul as “un-American” for the way she handled a prison labor stoppage last year to party faithful after a three-day convention.

“While Hochul was spending billions of dollars on illegals, she turned her back on corrections officers, nurses and transit workers,” he said, referencing labor unions that have clashed with the state during her tenure.

“Quite frankly, it was un-American,” he added.

Transport Workers United President John Samuelson exclusively told The Post that they would not back Hochul amid ongoing labor disputes with the state.

Blakeman lasered in on issues of crime and affordability in his acceptance speech, hammering his Democratic rival on recently reformed state bail laws that critics claim tie judges hands by banning bail for low-level offenses.

“Kathy Hochul has turned her back on the rule of law and those who uphold it,” he said. “Time and time again, she has sided with criminals over law-abiding citizens.”

Blakeman noted Hochul has been unwilling to modify “Raise the Age” laws, which raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18 from 16, blocking 16- and 17-year olds from being tried as adults in most cases.

Some law enforcement advocates have blamed Raise the Age for contributing to youth crimes hitting historic highs in the Big Apple in 2025 — with 14% of shooting victims and 18% of shooters under 18-years-old.

Blakeman also warned that Hochul’s controversial congestion toll on drivers in Midtown Manhattan that went into effect last year could be expanded if the Democrat stays in office for another term.

“Make no mistake, congestion pricing is coming to a community near you if Kathy Hochul is reelected for four more years,” he said. “You are being charged with the privilege of driving on a public road that you already paid for. That’s wrong.”

The rousing speech came after Trump appeared in a video backing Blakeman.

“Under his great leadership, Nassau County hired hundreds of new police officers and became the safest county. In America, that’s a big statement,” the president said.

“As governor, Bruce will fight hard to grow the economy, cut taxes, job killing regulations, protect New York industry and bring businesses and great-paying jobs back to the Empire State,” he said.

Trump first threw his support behind Blakeman last month after former GOP gubernatorial contender Rep. Elise Stefanik bowed out of the race.

Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki accused Blakeman of putting Trump’s approval above New Yorkers’ interests.

“Donald Trump said the quiet part out loud: If Blakeman wins in November, Trump will be running the state of New York right alongside him. That means raising costs on families, letting ICE trample on New Yorkers’ rights, and waging war on New York kids,” the spokesperson said.

No Republican has won statewide office since 2002, when former Gov. George Pataki won his third term.

Pataki, who attended the convention, said Republicans had a good chance to take back the governor’s mansion in November — particularly due to the Democratic Party being pushed to the left with the emergency of politicians like democratic socialist city Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“This is not the Democratic Party of five years ago. The Democratic Party in New York State has been captured by far left radicals,” Pataki said. 

Blakeman and running mate Todd Hood, running as lieutenant governor, will face off against Hochul and former City Council speaker Adrienne Adams in November.