NEW YORK (WABC) — Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a top ally to President Donald Trump, announced Friday afternoon that she would suspend her campaign for governor of New York, and also not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, just months after she launched a bid to try to flip the governorship currently held by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York,” Stefanik wrote in a post on X.
“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 also cited wanting to spend more time with her son.
Since launching her bid for governor in November, Stefanik had consolidated support from many of New York’s local Republican county parties behind her, but she faced a primary opponent in Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who announced his own bid.
Blakeman released a statement saying, “I want to thank Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for her outstanding service to the people of New York and to all Americans.”
Trump, whom Stefanik has supported, had declined to endorse either candidate thus far, calling both Stefanik and Blakeman “fantastic.”
“First of all, he’s a friend. She’s a friend. These are two great people running in a way I hate to see them I’m running against each other,” Trump said earlier this month.
On Friday, Trump posted a response on Truth Social saying,”Elise Stefanik, a fantastic person and Congresswoman from New York State, has just announced she won’t be running for Governor. Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way!”
Stefanik was first elected to represent New York in the House in 2014, and was at the time the youngest woman to ever win a seat in Congress. She became a rising star in the GOP and joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference.
Trump tapped her to be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations shortly after his election victory in November 2025, praising her in a statement to ABC News as “an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”
But months later, Trump said he was asking her to withdraw her nomination, citing razor-thin margins in the Republican-controlled House. Stefanik said she was “proud to be a team player” and step aside.
With Stefanik deciding to drop out, the New York State Republican Chair has thrown his support behind Blakeman.
“Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me,” NYGOP Chairman Ed Cox, said.
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More local news
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
