Albany, New York — Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress, abruptly ending a race that was expected to become one of the state’s most contentious Republican primaries.
In a statement posted on X, Stefanik said remaining in the race was “not an effective use of our time,” citing a desire to focus more fully on her young son and family. While expressing confidence in her ability to win the Republican primary against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Stefanik said the personal cost of continuing outweighed the political calculus.
Stefanik, a close ally of President Donald Trump, had positioned herself as a leading conservative challenger to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who faces her own primary contest against Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Her withdrawal reshapes the Republican field and effectively clears the path for Blakeman, who has already secured the endorsement of state GOP Chairman Ed Cox.
Once regarded as a moderate after arriving in Congress at age 30, Stefanik’s political trajectory shifted sharply as Trump consolidated power within the Republican Party. She became one of his most vocal defenders during his first impeachment and later voted against certifying the 2020 election results following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Her exit also follows a recent public dispute with House Speaker Mike Johnson, whom she accused of misleading her over legislative negotiations. Although tensions appeared to cool, Stefanik has not fully retracted those criticisms, signaling continued internal fractures within House Republican leadership.
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