Hochul Strengthens Re-Election Team Ahead of 2026
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul is reinforcing her re-election team by bringing in experienced individuals from recent competitive races in battleground states, signaling that she anticipates a challenging campaign in even reliably Democratic New York.
The governor’s strategy includes hiring former staff from prominent statewide campaigns in states like Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin, along with advisers from her 2022 gubernatorial bid.
Her campaign manager, Preston Elliott, who previously led Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022 re-election effort, recently worked with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which oversees independent spending in Senate races.
According to reports, Elliott is set to be succeeded by Lexi Kelly, who was the finance director for Senator Tammy Baldwin’s campaign in Minnesota.
Hochul’s communications team is being headed by Sarafina Chitika, who worked on Senator Raphael Warnock’s campaign before supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential run.
Additionally, Ryan Radulowacki, closely associated with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s campaign, will serve as the press secretary for Hochul’s re-election efforts.
Republican consultant Bill O’Reilly remarked on the political climate, stating, “Democrats made New York one of the least expensive states in America, and we all know that. It’s no surprise the governor is becoming anxious about the race.”
Democratic consultant Jack O’Donnell echoed similar sentiments, noting, “This experienced team shows she’s ready to fight. When she discloses her fundraising results next month, it will be clear she’s prepared for battle.”
Hochul has retained key veterans from her previous campaign, including Stacey Lynch, a former aide to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who transitioned from chief of staff to senior adviser for her re-election efforts this summer.
Abigail Irwin, known for establishing a strong fundraising framework, also continues as a senior adviser, as noted by Politico.
North Country Representative Elise Stefanik, currently Hochul’s primary Republican challenger, argued that the governor’s track record holds more weight than her team’s composition. She stated, “New Yorkers know that Kathy Hochul, deemed the worst governor in the nation, has put our state in a precarious position as the most economically challenged and least safe.”
