Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) recently mentioned in a Fox News interview that she is seriously considering a run for New York governor in 2026.
“Absolutely, I’m really thinking about it because I see the issues that Cathy Hochul and the one-party Democrat leadership have caused for New Yorkers,” she expressed during the interview with Maria Bartiromo. The support she has received has been quite remarkable.
Stefanik, who is 40 years old, was appointed by President Trump as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations earlier this year. Her nomination faced pressure from a slim majority within the House GOP, prompting Trump to reconsider his choice in March.
“It’s a concern with a very tough majority,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. People really support Elise, and there’s confidence about election day,” he added.
There’s been talk that Stefanik might shift her focus to a statewide campaign after she recently returned to GOP leadership in the House.
If she does pursue a run for governor, she won’t be able to seek reelection for her current swing district seat in 2026.
Hochul stepped in as governor in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation. She successfully defeated Republican Lee Zeldin in 2022, securing her position until at least 2026.
Despite her win coming by only six percentage points, making it one of the closest gubernatorial races in years, a new poll shows her leading the Democratic nomination for 2026, though her overall approval is just shy of 50%.
“Kathy Hochul is, frankly, the worst governor in America,” Stefanik asserted, adding that many don’t think it could get worse, but somehow it has. “Her low approval ratings speak for themselves.”
“New Yorkers—Republicans, independents, and even Democrats—are looking for a new generation of leaders to bring back some sense of common sense,” she noted.
Stefanik pointed out that she is particularly troubled by issues related to crime, energy, taxes, and overall affordability in the state.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is also contemplating a gubernatorial run. At a recent town hall meeting, his constituents raised concerns regarding Trump’s policies.
In the meantime, Hochul seems to be preparing for the upcoming election, suggesting the GOP candidate she faces will be an extreme Maga Republican. “I’m looking forward to that challenge,” she stated at a recent press conference.
She reiterated similar sentiments in an interview with CNN, emphasizing the struggles the Republican Party faces in New York. “No matter who opposes me, they will have to explain rising costs and loss of medical care due to tax benefits for the wealthy,” she said. “I look forward to that fight.”
