Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., officially kicked off her bid for New York governor on Friday, vowing to make the state “safe and affordable.”
The high-ranking House Republican is entering the 2026 contest to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in the country,” Stefanik stated Friday on “Fox & Friends.”
“New York is the most unaffordable state in the U.S., with the highest taxes, the highest energy costs, the highest utility costs,” she added.
Stefanik’s campaign launch alters the landscape of the 2026 race in one of the nation’s most Democratic states. Her initial platform focuses on crime, taxes and affordability throughout the Empire State.
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Hochul responded to her potential opponent. The Democratic governor has suggested she will run for re-election, though she has not yet made a formal announcement.
“Our campaign’s message to Trump’s No. 1 cheerleader? Game on… ” Hochul said, labeling Stefanik a “disaster for New York.”
Stefanik, who represents a conservative-leaning district in upstate New York, has often criticized Democratic leaders in her state. Recently, she targeted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist.
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“… we saw a raging anti-Semite, pro-Hamas communist who wants to raise taxes — and frankly, he barely secured the majority of New York City voters,” Stefanik told “Fox & Friends.”
“Kathy Hochul endorsed him and bowed the knee. She has failed New Yorkers.”
Hochul became New York’s first female governor in 2021 after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped down amid sexual harassment claims. She secured a full term in 2022, defeating Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.
The 2026 race is anticipated to be one of the most closely watched statewide battles in the nation.
