In a shocking Friday afternoon decision, Rep. Elise Stefanik announced that she is not only suspending her campaign for governor, but also will not seek reelection to Congress.
In a lengthy post on X, Stefanik said she was grateful for the “historic” support she has received thus far in the race from Republicans, independent voters and even Democrats. “However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York,” she wrote.
Explaining her decision to exit elected life entirely, Stefanik spoke of the importance to her of being a mom. “I have thought deeply about this and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don’t further focus on my young son’s safety, growth, and happiness – particularly at his tender age,” she said.
Stefanik was the heavy favorite against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who launched his campaign earlier this month. Polling both before and after both officially declared their campaigns showed Stefanik trouncing other Republicans in a primary. She had already secured the endorsement of the state Republican Party as well as county leaders around the state. Stefanik would assuredly have won a place on the ballot at the party’s February nominating convention.
But a complicating factor in the equation was President Donald Trump. Both Stefanik and Blakeman are close allies and friends of the president, who had declined to endorse either in the race yet. He recently said that he would back whoever came out of the state convention with the nomination. Trump also had initially tapped Stefanik to serve as U.N. ambassador, before withdrawing the nomination when Democrats in New York debated changing the law in order to keep her congressional seat vacant for longer before a special election.
“I wish Congresswoman Stefanik nothing but success as she pursues her priorities and continues her service to our nation,” Blakeman said in a statement following Stefanik’s announcement. “At this pivotal moment for New York, it is essential that Republicans and all New Yorkers come together in unity. I am ready to work hand-in-hand with the Congresswoman and all New Yorkers to restore accountability, affordability, and safety to state government.”
State GOP Chair Ed Cox praised Stefanik for her leadership, before immediately throwing his support behind Blakeman and urging other GOP leaders to do the same. “Working together and with Bruce Blakeman as our candidate, Republicans will defeat Kathy Hochul, end Democrats’ affordability crisis and put an end to New York’s nation-leading outmigration,” he said in a statement.
Hochul’s campaign, meanwhile, took a victory lap. “Elise Stefanik has finally acknowledged reality: If you run against Governor Kathy Hochul, you are going to lose,” said campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki, before criticizing Trump’s track record as well as Blakeman. “Governor Hochul’s message to him or whichever lackey Trump picks to run against her is simple: Bring it on.”
