Stefanik drops run for governor, will leave Congress

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik says she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek re-election to Congress.

Stefanik, a Republican, makes the announcement in an email to supporters, saying she made the decision while spending time with her family during the Christmas season.

“While many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom. I believe that being a parent is life’s greatest gift and greatest responsibility,” she says. “I have thought deeply about this, and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don’t further focus on my young son’s safety, growth, and happiness — particularly at his tender age.”

Stefanik represents the 21st Congressional District spanning upstate New York. In Congress, she presented herself as a bulwark against antisemitism and gained national attention for grilling the heads of universities for campus antisemitism, leading to the resignations of several Ivy League presidents.

She announced her run for governor against Democrat Kathy Hochul in November. Her campaign often focused on Jewish issues, berating Hochul for her endorsement of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Earlier this month, Jewish Republican and Trump ally Bruce Blakeman, the chief executive of Long Island’s Nassau County, also announced a run for governor.

Stefanik nods to the challenge in her statement, saying, “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.”