Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 House Republican and a close ally of President Donald J. Trump, all but confirmed Monday that she will run for governor in 2026, setting the stage for what could be one of the most consequential political battles in New York in decades.
Appearing on Fox News, Stefanik was asked directly by host Brian Kilmeade if she intended to enter the race. “Are you going to run for governor?” Kilmeade pressed.
“We are — yes, donate to savenewyork.com,” Stefanik replied. “We are building the groundwork today to support local candidates this year and we need to save New York and we’re working to do that every single day.”
Her statement, while brief, offered the clearest indication yet that Stefanik plans to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who has struggled to energize her party’s base while facing intensifying criticism over her handling of crime, immigration, and economic issues.
Stefanik, who has represented upstate New York in Congress for six terms, has been laying the groundwork for months.
Allies say she intends to focus her campaign on dismantling Hochul’s progressive record, which includes support for sanctuary city policies and the state’s widely criticized bail reform law.
Her timing was notable. Less than 24 hours earlier, Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City and an avowed socialist. Hochul had held back her endorsement for months despite Mamdani’s narrow primary win in June.
In an op-ed published Sunday in The New York Times, Hochul attempted to justify her decision, aligning herself with Mamdani’s rhetoric on affordability. “Affordability has long been my top priority as governor, and it is the No. 1 concern I share with Mr. Mamdani,” she wrote.
Stefanik wasted no time denouncing the move. Appearing on 77 WABC’s Sid & Friends in the Morning, she accused Hochul of capitulating to the far left. “It was only a matter of time before the worst governor in America bent the knee to this raging antisemite communist Zohran Mamdani,” Stefanik declared. “Kathy Hochul is an absolute disgrace. My phone has been ringing off the hook with people who are appalled that she has made this decision to embrace every radical position he stands for. It’s bad for New York City. It’s bad for New York State. And people are going to hold her accountable next November.”
Hochul’s endorsement underscores her own precarious standing within the Democratic Party. She is already facing a primary challenge from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, who endorsed Mamdani in June after the socialist’s upset victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
For Republicans, Stefanik’s move represents their strongest shot in years at capturing the governorship of a state long dominated by Democrats. With crime, affordability, and immigration dominating voter concerns, Stefanik is betting that her message of restoring safety and prosperity will resonate across party lines.
“Save New York” is more than a campaign slogan, Stefanik’s allies insist — it is the battle cry of a Republican Party eager to reclaim its place in one of the nation’s bluest states.
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