President Donald Trump’s allies are pushing Rep. Elise Stefanik to mount a run for New York governor — and Stefanik is apparently considering it.
After Trump withdrew her nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations over concerns about the House GOP’s narrow majority, Stefanik is now looking at a bid against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, two New York Republican operatives close to Stefanik told NOTUS.
In an Atlantic story published last week, Stefanik said she had “not ruled anything out.”
“Nor should I rule anything out,” she added.
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But Stefanik is apparently doing more than just not ruling anything out.
A New York GOP official who is close to Stefanik and another New York GOP operative told NOTUS that allies close to the president are pushing Stefanik to run.
“Many are pitching Elise to run for governor because she would be the strongest candidate, and she is looking into it and not ruling it out,” the GOP operative said.
While Trump’s support would obviously be the most significant factor in a Republican primary, personal friends of Trump — with ties to the New York City business scene — could be a significant money factor if she were to jump into the race.
Of course, Stefanik is already in a solid position financially. The New York GOP official pointed out that Stefanik already has nearly $10 million in her campaign account, much of which was raised in 2021 when she mulled a governor bid then.
If Stefanik were to run, it could set up a competitive Republican primary against another House Republican: Rep. Mike Lawler.
Lawler has openly flirted with the idea of running for governor against Hochul, so much so that he recently discussed the benefits and drawbacks of Trump’s endorsement in the race.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the state are already seizing on a potential primary between Stefanik and Lawler.
In a statement to NOTUS, New York State Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick said Republicans “can’t field a serious candidate from their pathetic crew of Trump minions.”
“New Yorkers want nothing to do with the clown show of Trump loyalists who are only focused on enabling Trump’s agenda that is raising costs, gutting health care, and attacking New Yorkers’ freedoms,” Dick said.
Stefanik’s look at a governor bid comes as she makes a contentious return to House GOP leadership. In his announcement pulling her nomination, Trump said Stefanik would be returning to Republican leadership. (Stefanik was previously the No. 4 House Republican.)
But another Republican, Rep. Lisa McClain, had already taken her position. So Speaker Mike Johnson created a new position: Chair of House Republican Leadership.
Although it seemed like everything was fine, Stefanik had not voted until last week. Sources told NOTUS she believed Johnson was wavering on his commitment to put her back on the House Intelligence Committee.
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Daniella Diaz and Reese Gorman are reporters at NOTUS.
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