Elise Stefanik Launches Bid for New York Governor/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rep. Elise Stefanik has officially launched her campaign for New York governor, calling for new leadership and slamming Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Stefanik brings strong ties to Donald Trump and broad GOP support across the state. Her candidacy sets the stage for a heated 2026 election in deep-blue New York.
New York Governor Race Quick Looks
- Rep. Elise Stefanik announced her 2026 campaign for New York governor.
- She called Gov. Kathy Hochul “the worst governor in America.”
- Stefanik has the backing of nearly 75% of NY Republican county chairs.
- The Trump-aligned congresswoman previously served as a UN ambassador nominee.
- Gov. Hochul faces a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.
- Democrats still hold a strong voter registration advantage in New York.
- Stefanik’s high-profile actions in Congress boosted her national name recognition.
- The last Republican NY governor, George Pataki, left office nearly 20 years ago.
Elise Stefanik Launches Bid for New York Governor
Deep Look
NEW YORK — U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a prominent Republican voice in Congress and close ally of former President Donald Trump, announced Friday she is officially entering the 2026 New York governor’s race. The move sets up a high-profile battle in a traditionally Democratic state and positions Stefanik as the early GOP frontrunner.
In a campaign launch video released online, Stefanik blasted incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul as “the worst governor in America” and blamed her administration for what she described as soaring costs and rising crime in New York.
“New York has become the most unaffordable state in the nation,” Stefanik said. “I am running for governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany — one that makes our state affordable and safe again.”
Stefanik, 40, represents a solidly Republican congressional district in upstate New York and has long hinted at a run for statewide office. Now, her candidacy is official — and backed by a formidable coalition of support. Her campaign said Friday that she has already secured endorsements from nearly three-quarters of Republican county chairs across the state.
From Moderate to MAGA Leader
When she entered Congress in 2014 at just 30 years old, Stefanik was viewed as a rising moderate within the Republican Party. A Harvard graduate and former Bush-era policy aide, she quickly made headlines as one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress.
But over the years, Stefanik has undergone a political transformation. Aligning herself closely with Donald Trump during his presidency, she became a fierce defender of the MAGA movement. Her loyalty earned her a national profile and the support of Trump’s base.
In fact, Trump tapped Stefanik to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during his current term, but the nomination was later pulled over concerns that losing her House seat could cost Republicans their slim majority.
Her public standing surged again earlier this year when she sharply questioned university leaders over antisemitism on campus during a high-profile congressional hearing. The exchange led to two university presidents resigning and further elevated Stefanik’s national image within conservative circles.
Hochul Campaign Fires Back
The announcement drew immediate pushback from Democratic circles.
“Kathy Hochul has delivered for New Yorkers, while Elise Stefanik has spent her time as Donald Trump’s number one cheerleader in Congress,” said Hochul campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. “Apparently, screwing over New Yorkers in Congress wasn’t enough — now she’s trying to bring Trump’s chaos and skyrocketing costs to our state.”
Gov. Hochul, who became governor in 2021 following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, is also facing a primary challenge from within her own party. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, her running mate in 2022, announced his bid earlier this year, making the Democratic primary an additional battleground to watch.
An Uphill Battle for Republicans
Despite Stefanik’s name recognition, fundraising power, and backing from Trump loyalists, the path to the governor’s mansion is steep for any Republican in New York. Democrats maintain a substantial voter registration edge in the state.
Still, Stefanik’s entry into the race marks the GOP’s most high-profile effort since 2022, when former Rep. Lee Zeldin mounted a strong campaign against Hochul and came within six points of victory — the closest margin for a Republican since George Pataki’s last win in 2002.
Zeldin, who now leads the Environmental Protection Agency under Trump, proved that Republicans can still be competitive statewide if they energize conservative voters while appealing to centrists on key issues like crime and affordability.
With Stefanik’s strong support in rural and suburban regions — combined with her growing national prominence — Republicans see her as the candidate most capable of building on Zeldin’s 2022 performance.
The GOP primary field remains uncertain. U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler of the Hudson Valley had been floated as a potential candidate, but earlier this year, he announced he would instead seek reelection to Congress in his battleground district.
What’s Next in the 2026 Race
The stage is now set for a fierce gubernatorial campaign in one of America’s most politically complex states. Hochul will need to defend her record not only in the general election but also against her own lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary.
Stefanik, meanwhile, will look to consolidate Republican support and position herself as the face of a new conservative push in New York. With deep ties to the Trump White House and a sharpened political persona, she enters the race as both a high-risk and high-reward candidate.
If elected, Stefanik would become New York’s first Republican governor in two decades and the first woman elected to the office from the GOP.
