Elise Stefanik Drops New York Gubernatorial Bid and Says She Will Leave Congress

Rep. Elise Stefanik announced on Friday, 19 December 2025, that she is suspending her campaign for governor of New York and will not seek another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The decision marks a swift reversal for the four-term Republican, who only six weeks earlier launched a bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

In a message posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Stefanik said she was “humbled” by the support her campaign had received from voters across the political spectrum but concluded that continuing the primary fight would not be an efficient use of resources. She also cited a desire to spend additional time with her young son.

“While we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York,” she wrote.

Primary field and lack of endorsement

Since entering the race in November, Stefanik had secured backing from numerous county Republican committees across the state. Her principal challenger was Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who announced his candidacy shortly after Stefanik’s rollout. Former President Donald Trump, who counts both Republicans as close allies, had declined to endorse either contender, calling them “fantastic” and expressing regret they were running against each other.

The lack of an early endorsement from Trump, often a decisive factor in Republican primaries, left the contest unsettled. Party strategists projected that an extended intraparty fight could drain financial and organizational resources needed for a general-election campaign against Hochul, who took office in 2021 and won a full term in 2022.

Career in Congress

Stefanik, 41, was first elected to the House in 2014, becoming at the time the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Representing New York’s 21st District, she built a profile as a moderate on some issues but became a staunch defender of Trump during the first impeachment proceedings in 2019. In 2021 she was elected chair of the House Republican Conference, the No. 3 position in GOP leadership.

Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, the White House announced plans to nominate Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The nomination was withdrawn months later at Trump’s request so that Republicans could preserve a narrow House majority. Stefanik said at the time she was “proud to be a team player” and remained in Congress.

Statement from Trump and White House

Reacting to Friday’s decision, Trump wrote on his social-media platform that Stefanik is “a tremendous talent” and predicted she would find success in any future endeavor. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who previously served as Stefanik’s communications director, praised the congresswoman as an “incredible advocate” for her upstate district.

Implications for 2026 races

Stefanik’s withdrawal reshapes both the gubernatorial and congressional landscapes for 2026. Without her, Blakeman is positioned as the leading Republican contender for governor, although additional candidates could still enter the race before the state’s filing deadline. On the congressional side, New York’s 21st District—which covers a large stretch of the North Country and part of the Adirondacks—will now be an open seat. The district has leaned Republican in recent cycles, but Democrats may view the vacancy as an opportunity to compete.

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The New York State Board of Elections lists early April as the deadline for filing petitions for federal and statewide offices, giving potential candidates several months to organize.

Reasons cited by the congresswoman

Beyond the tactical considerations of a drawn-out primary, Stefanik emphasized family concerns. She and her husband welcomed their first child in August 2021. In her social-media post, she said spending more time with her son was central to her decision to step back from statewide politics and congressional duties.

While Stefanik did not outline specific future plans, allies predicted she would remain active in Republican politics. Her decision not to seek reelection means her House tenure will conclude in January 2027, ending more than a decade of service representing northern New York.

As of Friday, neither the New York Republican State Committee nor Blakeman’s campaign had announced changes to the primary schedule. Hochul’s team also declined immediate comment on Stefanik’s exit. Political observers noted that Stefanik’s early departure could help the GOP consolidate resources for the general election, but the party still faces an uphill battle in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since George Pataki won a third term in 2002.

With Stefanik stepping away from both the gubernatorial race and Congress, attention now shifts to who will fill the newly open political lanes. Prospective candidates for the 21st District are expected to announce their intentions in the coming weeks, while statewide Republican donors assess whether Blakeman—or another entrant—can mount a viable challenge to Hochul.

Crédito da imagem: Albany Times Union via Getty Images