Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, is considering a run for governor of the state, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. She is said to be seriously contemplating a bid following encouragement from fellow Republicans in New York, members of the Trump circle, and GOP donors. The current Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, is up for re-election in 2026.
This potential move comes after former President Donald Trump withdrew Stefanik’s nomination to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, instead requesting her to remain in Congress. Stefanik, who recently assumed a new leadership role in Congress, has $10 million in cash across her political entities and has surpassed Trump’s performance in her upstate New York district. Rep. Mike Lawler, also a Republican from New York, is exploring a gubernatorial run as well.
A spokesperson for the New York State Democratic Party, Addison Dick, referred to Stefanik as part of a “pathetic crew of Trump minions.” Dick criticized the Republican Party for lacking serious candidates and accused them of enabling Trump’s agenda, which he claimed harms New Yorkers.
Stefanik’s nomination for the U.N. ambassador position was withdrawn due to concerns about the GOP’s slim majority in the House. Despite assurances of a return to the House GOP leadership team and Intelligence Committee, tensions have arisen between Stefanik, Speaker Mike Johnson, and other House Republicans.
Although New York has not had a Republican governor in nearly two decades, Stefanik could present a significant challenge to Hochul if she navigates a GOP primary successfully. In the 2022 election, Hochul defeated Republican candidate Lee Zeldin by a narrow margin. Hochul has already amassed a substantial campaign fund, while rumors suggest potential challenges from within her own party, with her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, considering a Democratic primary challenge in 2026.
