By — Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/elise-stefanik-to-run-for-governor-of-new-york Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Elise Stefanik to run for governor of New York Politics Nov 7, 2025 8:16 AM EST NEW YORK (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is running for governor of New York, her campaign announced Friday. In a video shared on social media, Stefanik called Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul “the worst governor in America” and called New York “the most unaffordable state in the nation.” Stefanik, who represents a solid red congressional district in upstate New York, has for months teased a run for governor, leveling heavy criticism at Hochul and more recently toward Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City. READ MORE: Mamdani tells Trump that New York is ready to fight after president’s threats fail to thwart voters Last year, President Donald Trump picked Stefanik, a staunch ally, to be the administration’s ambassador to the United Nations, but months later rescinded the nomination over concerns about Republicans’ tight margins in the House. READ MORE: White House withdraws Rep. Stefanik’s nomination for UN ambassador over GOP’s razor-thin majority in House Though any Republican faces long odds of winning the governor’s mansion in New York, Stefanik’s campaign will bring solid name recognition, fundraising prowess and deep ties to the Trump White House. WATCH MORE: What the election results signal for next year’s midterms The Republican primary field remains unclear ahead of the 2026 race. U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler had been contemplating a run and was considered a potentially strong candidate, but said earlier this year that he would instead seek reelection in his battleground House district in the New York Hudson Valley. Hochul is facing a contested primary, with her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, running against her. Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, was 30 when she was first elected to the House in 2014. She entered Congress as a moderate Republican but soon attached herself to Trump, reshaping her persona into more of a brash, outspoken MAGA disciple. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Her national profile got a big boost after she aggressively questioned a group of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses, leading to two of their resignations and winning praise from the Republican president. Democrats have a major voter registration edge in New York. The last Republican governor in the state was former Gov. George Pataki, who left office about two decades ago. Still, Republican Lee Zeldin, a former Long Island congressman and current head of the Environmental Protection Agency, made a serious run for the office in 2022, coming within striking distance of upsetting Hochul. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is running for governor of New York, her campaign announced Friday. In a video shared on social media, Stefanik called Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul “the worst governor in America” and called New York “the most unaffordable state in the nation.” Stefanik, who represents a solid red congressional district in upstate New York, has for months teased a run for governor, leveling heavy criticism at Hochul and more recently toward Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City. READ MORE: Mamdani tells Trump that New York is ready to fight after president’s threats fail to thwart voters Last year, President Donald Trump picked Stefanik, a staunch ally, to be the administration’s ambassador to the United Nations, but months later rescinded the nomination over concerns about Republicans’ tight margins in the House. READ MORE: White House withdraws Rep. Stefanik’s nomination for UN ambassador over GOP’s razor-thin majority in House Though any Republican faces long odds of winning the governor’s mansion in New York, Stefanik’s campaign will bring solid name recognition, fundraising prowess and deep ties to the Trump White House. WATCH MORE: What the election results signal for next year’s midterms The Republican primary field remains unclear ahead of the 2026 race. U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler had been contemplating a run and was considered a potentially strong candidate, but said earlier this year that he would instead seek reelection in his battleground House district in the New York Hudson Valley. Hochul is facing a contested primary, with her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, running against her. Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, was 30 when she was first elected to the House in 2014. She entered Congress as a moderate Republican but soon attached herself to Trump, reshaping her persona into more of a brash, outspoken MAGA disciple. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Her national profile got a big boost after she aggressively questioned a group of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses, leading to two of their resignations and winning praise from the Republican president. Democrats have a major voter registration edge in New York. The last Republican governor in the state was former Gov. George Pataki, who left office about two decades ago. Still, Republican Lee Zeldin, a former Long Island congressman and current head of the Environmental Protection Agency, made a serious run for the office in 2022, coming within striking distance of upsetting Hochul. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now