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Rep. Elise Stefanik, a prominent member of House Republican leadership and a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, is weighing a run for governor of New York in 2026, according to a person familiar with her deliberations.
The move would pit Stefanik, who represents a conservative upstate New York district, against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is seeking reelection in a state that has not elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades.
Stefanik’s name had been floated for high-profile roles, including U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a nomination that was recently withdrawn due to fears of losing a Republican House seat in a narrowly divided Congress.
“Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!” Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social, fanning speculation about her future political plans.
In a statement released Wednesday, Stefanik didn’t confirm her candidacy but slammed Hochul, calling her the “Worst Governor in America,” and said New Yorkers must “FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK.”
A Crowded Field on Both Sides
If she enters the race, Stefanik could face Rep. Mike Lawler, a fellow Republican who has been openly exploring a run. On the Democratic side, Gov. Hochul may also encounter a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who recently opted out of running for reelection alongside her, and Rep. Ritchie Torres, a rising Democratic voice and frequent critic of Hochul.
“No matter the GOP nominee next year that I’ll be running against, it’s going to be an extreme MAGA Republican, and I look forward to that fight,” Hochul said when asked about Stefanik.
The 2026 gubernatorial race is already shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent New York political history, especially following Lee Zeldin’s near-upset in 2022, which energized Republicans across the state.
Zeldin, now head of the Environmental Protection Agency, has not ruled out further involvement in state politics but is not currently expected to run again.
What’s at Stake
Stefanik’s entry would energize the GOP base, particularly Trump supporters in New York. Her national profile and party leadership credentials would instantly make her a frontrunner in any Republican primary.
But she would also face steep challenges in a deeply Democratic state where the last GOP governor, George Pataki, left office in 2006.
If both parties face contentious primaries, the race could reshape the future of New York politics, spotlighting key issues like public safety, the economy, and Trump-era federal-state tensions.
