Elise Stefanik announces her candidacy
Republican Representative Elise Stefanik has officially declared her intention to run for governor of New York, positioning herself against the current Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul.
After months of consideration, Ms. Stefanik becomes the first prominent Republican to enter the race. Earlier, GOP Representative Mike Lawler had stated he would not pursue a gubernatorial run.
In a campaign video released on Friday, Ms. Stefanik criticized Governor Hochul for contributing to the state’s rising cost of living and linked her to newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist whom Hochul has endorsed.
The campaign video emphasizes the need for effective leadership: “With everything on the line, we need someone who will deliver results and make New York affordable and safe for families and small businesses,” it states. “Elise Stefanik will clean up Kathy Hochul’s catastrophe and restore New York’s greatness.”
For several months, Ms. Stefanik has labeled Ms. Hochul as “the worst governor in America.”
Democratic Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado is set to challenge Ms. Hochul in the upcoming primary.
A key figure among House Republicans and an ally of former President Trump, Ms. Stefanik represents a conservative district in upstate New York that has historically supported Trump despite his losses in statewide elections during 2020 and 2024.
If successful, Ms. Stefanik would become New York’s first Republican governor since George Pataki held office from 1995 to 2007. Governor Hochul made history as the state’s first female governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation amid scandal in 2021.
“Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and independents to fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to save New York,” she asserted in her announcement video.
Elected to Congress in 2014 as one of its youngest members, she currently ranks fourth among House Republicans. She notably defended Trump during his first impeachment trial and was later nominated as ambassador to the United Nations before her nomination was withdrawn to maintain GOP control in the House.
