Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is expected to announce her bid to challenge incumbent Kathy Hochul for the New York governor’s mansion on Friday.
Numerous outlets report the 41-year-old Trump-aligned lawmaker from Albany is committed to running, as she has been teasing for months. Four sources with direct knowledge told Politico on Thursday that Stefanik’s rollout will include a campaign video and plans to launch a statewide tour.
The expected announcement will come at the end of a week that saw huge electoral wins for Democratic governors in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as a mayoral victory for socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City.
Stefanik was elected to Congress in 2014 after beginning her political career working as a staffer for the U.S. Domestic Policy Council under the Bush administration. She helped prepare the Republican platform for the 2012 presidential election, and worked with the Foreign Policy Initiative, the now-shuttered right-wing think tank.
During her time in the House, Stefanik — like many of her conservative allies — expressed skepticism about President Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump. She’s also been a steadfast critic of Hochul, whom she’s called “the worst governor in America.”
Her knocks against Hochul have included allegations of weakness when it comes to battling antisemitism. The governor’s office has made similar criticisms of Stefanik.
If she indeed does run, the upstate Republican could face a primary challenge from conservative Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has also signaled interest in running the state. Blakeman enjoys strong support on Long Island, where he won a second term Tuesday.
New Yorkers head to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026 to pick the next governor.
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