Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) said he will remain at home after President Trump announced that the UN ambassador's appointment will be withdrawn, saying the surprising move is the result of concerns about special elections and thin-split home margins.
“This is about stepping up as a team and I'm doing it as a leader. I'm going to get this mission and provide these historic results,” Stefanik told guest host Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday night on Fox News in her first public comment since Trump announced the nomination was being withdrawn.
“I'm proud to be a team player. The President knows that. He and I have had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to providing results on behalf of the Americans,” Stefanik said.
Protecting her reputation as one of Trump's solid advocates, Stephanik cited a “very tough majority” and publicly tracked an official statement from Trump about the truth that announced the move early in the day, despite certainly a shared district of those running in her seat.
A White House official told Hill he was worried that seats would be vacant all year round, telling him that high-stakes votes and debt caps for Trump's ambitious legislative agenda are tough due to the tight margins, as they require all the votes Republicans can get. Republican sources also pointed to Florida's special election for Republican seats next week, as Republican seats are closer than expected.
Stefanik noted that New York Democrats pushed him to delay the special election to fill her seat after she left.
“Today was a real culmination, but it was a combination of New York corruption that we see. [Gov.] Kathy Hochul [D]special elections and the House margin,” Stefanik said.
“And I was at home. It's hard to count these votes every day. And we will continue to bring victory on behalf of President Trump and importantly for voters in this country against political prognosis.”
Now, Republicans can afford to lose two Republicans in any party vote, with 218 House Republicans and 213 House Democrats, with the assumption of full attendance. That mathematics will change soon. Two seats will be decided for the two Republican-leaning seats to be decided on Tuesday, and two democratic seats to be decided later this year.
Stefanik left her position as chairman of the House Republican Congress as she was waiting for confirmation. Now, it is unclear what the future of her home will look like.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement that he would “invite her to return to the leadership table immediately.” But all election leadership positions are full. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) of the current House GOP chair says she is not planning to leave.
When asked about his leadership position, Stefanik said: “I'm going to keep speaking up…I'm not holding up confirmation, so Americans will hear more from me.”
Stefanik said he would continue his work by taking on the issues of anti-Semitism in public education and armed service.
Brett Samuels contributed.
