Rep. Elise Stefanik has ended her campaign for New York governor and will also step away from her House seat, effectively putting her political plans on pause as Republicans regroup ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
In a statement released Friday, Stefanik said she was deeply thankful for the broad support she received across party lines but concluded that continuing in the race was not the best strategic move. She explained that while she believed she would have won a Republican primary, a long and costly internal contest would only weaken the party’s chances in a heavily Democratic state like New York.
Stefanik entered the governor’s race with the goal of challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, but her path became complicated when Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman launched his own bid. Both candidates are closely aligned with President Donald Trump, who publicly praised each of them, creating uncertainty within the GOP field.
Blakeman’s entry quickly shifted momentum. His campaign announced plans to begin advertising near Trump’s Florida residence, signaling a clear effort to secure the former president’s favor. Following Stefanik’s withdrawal, Republican Party leadership moved swiftly to unite behind Blakeman. State GOP Chair Ed Cox formally endorsed him, citing his record on public safety, tax cuts and his ability to win elections in competitive territory.
Stefanik’s political future had already taken several turns this year. Earlier, Trump had nominated her to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but that nomination was later withdrawn due to concerns about maintaining the Republican majority in the House. Afterward, Stefanik pivoted toward the governor’s race, hoping to reclaim a statewide office Republicans have not held since George Pataki left office more than two decades ago.
Despite her national profile and strong conservative credentials, Stefanik faced an uphill battle from the start. She repeatedly criticized Hochul’s leadership and attempted to link the governor to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but early polling showed Hochul with a commanding advantage. A recent Siena University poll placed Hochul ahead by 19 points, underscoring the challenge Republicans face statewide.
Stefanik had been scheduled to headline a local GOP holiday event in Oneida County but canceled at the last minute, citing work in Washington, even though Congress had already adjourned for the year. Her withdrawal soon followed.
With Stefanik out, Blakeman now stands as the sole Republican candidate in the race. While he has a strong record in Nassau County, where he won reelection comfortably despite Democratic gains elsewhere in the state, he remains relatively unknown outside Long Island. Polling shows a majority of Republican voters statewide are unfamiliar with him, and he has yet to build significant support in upstate regions where Stefanik had established a strong base over the past decade.
As Republicans look to end a 24-year drought in statewide elections, the party now faces the challenge of unifying behind a candidate who must quickly expand his profile across New York and appeal beyond traditional GOP strongholds.