JUST IN: Beloved MAGA Rep. Launches Daring Run For Governor In Blue State
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) made it official on Friday, announcing her anticipated run for governor of New York, taking direct aim at Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul with a fiery opening that set the tone for what’s sure to be a brutal 2026 race.
The North Country congresswoman and top House Republican, one of Donald Trump’s closest allies, ended months of speculation during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
“I’m running for governor to make New York affordable and safe. We have seen decades of single-party rule led by Democrats. And Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America,” Stefanik said.
Stefanik torched Hochul for presiding over what she called an affordability and public safety crisis. “New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation, with the highest taxes, the highest energy bills, the highest utility bills. We also have a crime crisis because Kathy Hochul has brought us failed bail reform and has embraced the defund the police Democrats,” she said.
The GOP firebrand didn’t hold back when referencing New York City’s new mayor-elect, socialist Zohran Mamdani. “After this week… when we saw a raging anti-Semite pro-Hamas communist who wants to raise taxes. And frankly, he barely won the majority of New York City voters. Kathy Hochul endorsed him and bent the knee,” Stefanik said.
“[Hochul] has failed New Yorkers,” Stefanik continued. “So this is a broad coalition of Republicans, independents and Democrats who know that enough is enough. We need commonsense leadership to make New York affordable and safe again.”
Stefanik, who chairs the House GOP Conference, blasted Hochul as an “accidental governor” who only got the job because she was Andrew Cuomo’s lieutenant. “I’ve always put New York families first. Kathy Hochul has put New York families last again and again and again,” Stefanik said. “And when New Yorkers were looking for strong leadership from a governor not to bend the knee to Zohran Mamdani, Kathy Hochul bent the knee. Why did she do that? Because she is hemorrhaging support even in her own party among Democrats.”
In a formal statement announcing her bid Thursday night, Stefanik vowed, “I am running for Governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families all across our great state.”
“Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to Fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to Save New York,” she added.
Her message was blunt and familiar: “Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America.”
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