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Stefanik, a Trump ally, also said she would not seek re-election to her House seat next year.
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik announced she is ending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek re-election to her House seat in the upcoming year. A strong ally of President Donald Trump, Stefanik stated her decision was not made lightly and aimed to avoid an 'unnecessary and protracted Republican primary' in New York, emphasizing her role as a mother. This unexpected withdrawal came shortly after a major challenger, Bruce Blakeman, entered the Republican primary.
Stefanik's departure will open up her upstate New York district, a largely rural area that Trump carried significantly in 2024. The article highlights that Trump had previously attempted to clear the GOP field for Stefanik in the governor's race by endorsing other potential candidates for their current positions. Despite initial praise from Trump for her gubernatorial prospects, Stefanik decided against running, a move Trump later supported on Truth Social. Her decision was also influenced by increasing frustration with Republican congressional leadership, particularly Speaker Mike Johnson, and follows her nomination for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations being withdrawn by Trump, leading to her return to Congress without her leadership title.
Following Stefanik's announcement, New York Republican Party Chair Ed Cox quickly endorsed Bruce Blakeman for governor, urging party leaders to follow suit. Meanwhile, the campaign for Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul reacted with confidence, suggesting that Stefanik's withdrawal acknowledged the difficulty of challenging Hochul in the state.