In a significant political development, Rep. Elise Stefanik is gearing up to officially declare her candidacy for the New York governorship in 2026.
This announcement is expected to follow closely on the heels of Tuesday's New York City mayoral election, according to those privy to her plans. Stefanik, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump in Congress, is poised to become the first Republican in over two decades to be elected as the state's leader.
As reported by Axios, Stefanik's move is set to challenge the incumbent Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is also up for reelection in 2026. An internal poll conducted by Stefanik's political committee has revealed Hochul to be "deeply vulnerable." Stefanik has reportedly built a robust political team and accumulated over $13 million in campaign funds, as per sources. Newsmax has sought a comment from the congresswoman's office on these developments.
Stefanik is positioning herself to confront Hochul on a range of issues, including immigration and Hochul's endorsement of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor in September. The two politicians had a heated exchange during a congressional hearing in June over Trump's deployment of the National Guard to California.
Stefanik questioned Hochul on New York's sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants, providing a glimpse into the likely tone and issues of the upcoming gubernatorial race.
Stefanik's campaign is expected to be spearheaded by her longtime political aide, Alex deGrasse, who will serve as chief strategist and CFO. Patrick Hester, her chief of staff, will also play a crucial role. Stefanik has reportedly enlisted several top Trump advisers, including Tony Fabrizio, Trump's 2024 chief strategist, as pollster; Chris Grant, who ran the main pro-Trump super PAC, as adviser; and Tim Saler, another Trump 2024 official, to oversee voter microtargeting.
New York, a traditionally deep-blue state, shifted more to the right than any other state in the 2024 elections. This shift has created an opportunity for a Republican governor to take office in Albany. Trump secured more than 3.5 million votes in New York, the highest for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1988, and 800,000 more than GOP gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin received in 2022. Stefanik's campaign reportedly aims to engage those Trump voters who did not turn out for Zeldin.
Rep. Mike Lawler, another New York GOP representative, had considered running for governor but decided to remain in the House after Trump expressed his preference for the two-term congressman to retain his competitive seat, according to CNN. In a May interview on CNN, Hochul stated she was ready for the fight. "I look forward to that fight," she said. "No matter who it is, it's not settled yet, but I say bring it on."
Stefanik has also been vocal in her fight against antisemitism, a stance her team believes will resonate with Jewish voters, who constitute more than 8% of the state's population. She gained national attention in 2023 when she grilled university presidents over campus antisemitism and plans to publish a book in April, "Poisoned Ivies," about what she terms "far-left indoctrination" at colleges. Her allies believe that discontent could grow after Mamdani's expected victory in the mayoral race next week.
Earlier this year, national Republicans conducted polling to identify the strongest GOP challenger to Hochul, weighing Stefanik, Lawler, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, with Stefanik emerging as the favorite. Blakeman has not announced his plans. Trump had briefly tapped Stefanik to serve as U.N. ambassador after winning the presidency last year, but withdrew the nomination amid concerns he'd need her vote to maintain a slim Republican majority in the House.
Democrats are already gearing up for the battle. "Elise Stefanik has spent her career in D.C. selling out New Yorkers to Donald Trump, and that is why she is going to lose to Kathy Hochul," said Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. "Whether it's her votes to help Trump gut Medicaid or raise costs, Stefanik and her record could not be more toxic with New York voters," he said. "Bring it on."
Stefanik's forthcoming announcement and her potential challenge to Hochul's governorship mark a significant development in New York politics. As the state has shown a shift towards the right in recent elections, Stefanik's campaign could potentially reshape the political landscape.
However, with the Democrats already preparing their counter-strategy, the 2026 gubernatorial race promises to be a closely watched and fiercely contested battle.
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