Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) launched her long-anticipated bid for governor on Friday, capping off months of speculation since her nomination to be United Nations ambassador was pulled earlier this year.
Stefanik’s campaign released a 2:33-minute video titled “From the Ashes” on Friday that blasts Hochul on affordability, high taxes, and illegal immigrant crime.
“From the ashes of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies, New York will rise like we always do,” the video’s narrator states. “The spirit of the Empire State cannot be broken; all we need is a courageous leader ready for the fight.”
“Elise Stefanik will make New York affordable and safe,” the video continues.
Notably, Stefanik is not narrating the video, a feature typical of most campaign launches, where the candidate speaks directly to appeal to the voter. Instead, the video clips feature images of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, as well as snippets of Stefanik speaking in interviews, accompanied by cameos of New York staples: the famous 9/11 firefighters and flag photo, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
“With everything on the line, we need someone who will deliver results,” the video said. “Elise Stefanik will clean up Kathy Hochul’s catastrophe and restore New York’s greatness.”
Stefanik has been using her House seat, which she’s held since 2015, as a de facto campaign bully pulpit to attack Hochul for months. Her crusade against the New York incumbent gained momentum in the spring after President Donald Trump withdrew her nomination to serve as U.N. ambassador, citing Republicans’ narrow House margins.
Since then, Stefanik has stayed largely out of the House public eye. After Trump’s nomination of Stefanik was pulled on March 27, she refrained from voting in the House until April 9. She was named chairwoman of House Republican leadership, given that Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) succeeded her as House GOP Conference chairwoman.
But Stefanik has not been present at any of the press conferences held by leadership during the last 37 days of the government shutdown.
Stefanik will likely clear the GOP field for the primary season, particularly as she is believed to have the support of Trump, who has seemed to urge possible primary rivals, such as Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), to stay in their current positions. She is starting off her campaign with a $12 million war chest as of Oct. 10.
Meanwhile, Hochul is facing a primary challenge from her Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.
Polling at the beginning of October found Hochul leading Stefanik, 48% to 43%, in the blue state. The poll, commissioned by a Stefanik PAC, found that the governor’s coalition is “historically fragile” given her soft support from her own voters, a growing appetite for change, and her endorsement of Mamdani, the latter of which could alienate independents.
GOP TARGETS NEW YORK SOCIALIST ZOHRAN MAMDANI AS SYMBOL OF DEMOCRATIC EXTREMISM
Eyes are on Hochul to see how Mamdani’s historic win on Tuesday will affect her reelection campaign: whether the high energy and Democratic voter turnout will carry on to the 2026 midterm elections or if Mamdani’s socialist policies will encourage more conservative voters to turn out in a nonpresidential year.
Republicans are hoping to capitalize on Mamdani’s victory and tie Democrats to him. The strategy is an unconventional tactic, given that Mamdani represents just one city. But the GOP is pushing strong messaging that socialism will grow in the country due to a rise in Mamdani-aligned candidates at the local, state, and federal levels.
