Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN/AP) - Republican Elise Stefanik, Representative for the 21st congressional district of New York (Watertown, Plattsburgh, Glens Falls) announced she is running for governor Friday morning.
Stefanik's intentions had been rumored for months as she recently launched attacks towards Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, dubbing Hochul "the worst governor in America." Stefanik has also attacked Hochul over her endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City.
Stefanik released the following statement Friday morning:
"Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America. Under Kathy Hochul's failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery prices crushing hardworking families. Hochul has created a crime crisis with failed bail reform and her support of Defund the Police candidates. And when New Yorkers were looking for leadership the most, Kathy Hochul bent the knee to the raging Defund the Police Tax Hiking Antisemite Communist who will destroy New York. I am running for Governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families all across our great state. Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to Fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to Save New York."
President Trump picked Stefanik to be his ambassador to the United Nations last year but later rescinded the nomination over concerns about the Republican Party's narrow majority in the House.
If elected, Stefanik would be the first Republican governor of New York State since George Pataki who was in office from 1995-2007.
Gov. Hochul was quick to react to the announcement, calling Stefanik a "sellout."
"Sellout Stefanik is Donald Trump’s number one cheerleader in Congress and his right-hand woman in his war on New York: gutting health care, jacking up costs with expensive tariffs, and cutting funding for our police, schools, and hospitals," Hochul Campaign Communications Director Sarafina Chitika wrote.
"Apparently, screwing over New Yorkers in Congress wasn’t enough – now she’s trying to bring Trump’s chaos and skyrocketing costs to our state. While Stefanik puts Trump first and New York last, Gov. Hochul is lowering costs, cutting middle-class taxes, and fighting for the New Yorkers Stefanik abandoned.”
New York's gubernatorial election is Nov. 3, 2026.