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President Trump has long promised to make his home state of New York great again, and the Republican Party may be working to do just that.
On Wednesday, NBC News reported that Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., was considering a bid for governor in 2026, hoping to unseat incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
Stefanik’s consideration of a gubernatorial bid comes at a pivotal moment. After Trump withdrew her U.N. ambassador nomination, she was given a new leadership role in Congress, but sources indicate she’s being urged to aim higher.
According to the outlet, Stefanik believes she could beat Hochul. She maintains a high approval rating with Republican voters in the state and has around $10 million in campaign cash available should she choose to run.
A source for the New York Post told the outlet, “She is being advised and pushed to consider by allies of [Trump] and longtime friends.”
A source close to Stefanik told the Post, “Elise has been approached by major donors, New York GOP leadership and Trumpworld to run for governor.”
Stefanik took aim at Hochul Wednesday afternoon. “This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK,” she wrote.
The lawmaker linked a recent poll from Marist and emphasized, “Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close. Her incompetence, corruption, and radical failed Far Left policies have destroyed our great state causing businesses and families to flee from crushing high taxes, out of control regulations, inept fiscal mismanagement, wide open border sanctuary city policies putting illegals first and NYers last, and an out of control crime crisis due to Democrats’ failed bail reform defund the police policies. This polling shows that we can WIN & SAVE NEW YORK.”
President Trump seemed to weigh in on the matter in a Truth Social post. “Congressman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!” he wrote without context.
New York has not had a Republican governor since George Pataki left office in 2007, but Republicans have made major headway in recent elections.
