Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik signaled that she will run for governor in 2026 during an appearance on Fox News on Monday.
“Are you going to run for governor?” Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade asked.
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“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.”
Stefanik, a six-term House lawmaker and close ally of President Donald Trump, has floated a run for governor to torpedo New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul’s reelection bid for months. The Republican congresswoman is likely to center her campaign around blasting Hochul’s left-wing governing record, including New York’s sanctuary city policies and the state’s controversial bail reform law. (RELATED: Kathy Hochul Sidesteps Question About Plans To Endorse Socialist Mamdani In NYC Mayoral Race)
The New York Republican’s apparent confirmation of a run comes less than 24 hours after Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee and avowed socialist Zohran Mamdani’s campaign. Hochul had withheld her support of Mamdani for months despite him winning the contested Democratic primary contest in June.
Hochul said she admired the democratic socialist’s focus on cost-of-living concerns, in an op-ed for the New York Times published Sunday evening.
“Affordability has long been my top priority as governor, and it is the No. 1 concern I share with Mr. Mamdani,” Hochul wrote.
Stefanik slammed Hochul’s decision to endorse the democratic socialist, arguing that Mamdani’s far-left platform would wreak havoc on New York City if he is elected mayor in November.
“It was only a matter of time before the worst governor in America bent the knee to this raging antisemite communist Zohran Mamdani,” Stefanik said on Sid & Friends In The Morning on 77 WABC. “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 is notably facing a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado for the Democratic nomination. Delgado endorsed Mamdani in June following democratic socialist’s shock win over former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary contest.
Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler’s decision to pass on a gubernatorial bid in July opened the door for Stefanik’s apparent run for governor. Stefanik is likely to secure Trump’s endorsement upon officially jumping into the race.
Hochul leads Stefanik by 14 percentage points in a hypothetical general election matchup, according to an August Siena poll. Republicans have not won the New York governor’s mansion in more than two decades since former Republican Gov. George Pataki secured a third term in 2002.
Nicole Silverio contributed to this report.
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