Stefanik drops NY governor bid, won’t seek re-election to Congress

Rep. Elise Stefanik unexpectedly suspended her bid for New York governor and said she would not seek re-election to Congress, clearing the path for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to become the front-runner for the GOP nomination. The high-profile congresswoman said she wanted to avoid a bruising and costly primary in a challenging state.

Stefanik, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump who had the endorsement of most county party chairs, announced the decision in a post on X. She said she chose to spend Christmas with her family and would not pursue the governor’s race or re-election to Congress. "While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family," she wrote. "While we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, 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." She noted her role as a mother and said she would focus on her son’s safety, growth and happiness.

The move immediately reshaped the NY GOP contest, with Blakeman positioned to consolidate support from party leadership and conservatives. Blakeman issued a statement thanking Stefanik for her service and urged party unity as he positioned himself as the candidate to take on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul."At this pivotal moment for New York, it is essential that Republicans and all New Yorkers come together in unity. I am ready to work hand-in-hand with the Congresswoman and all New Yorkers to restore accountability, affordability, and safety to state government," Blakeman said. He has traveled to Washington, D.C., including a Hanukkah celebration at the White House earlier in the week, to rally support.

Blakeman’s ascent drew rapid support from New York GOP leadership. State GOP Chairman Ed Cox said Stefanik would remain a leader in the party and thanked her for her efforts, while endorsing Blakeman and urging party leaders to join him. Cox called Blakeman a fighter who has proven he can win in difficult terrain and highlighted his record cutting taxes and boosting safety in Nassau County.

The New York Conservative Party’s Jerry Kassar signaled broad conservative backing for Blakeman and said he planned to discuss endorsements with party leaders moving forward. Even with the endorsements, insiders noted the party’s anxiety about an intra-party clash draining resources from Hochul’s well-funded campaign. A Reuters report cited sources who cautioned that Stefanik’s withdrawal reduced the risk of a primary fight but left the party concerned about the fundraising and organizational hit from a contested race.

Trump, who had previously remained neutral in the emerging primary, weighed in after Stefanik’s withdrawal with a Truth Social post praising her for her talents and saying she would have great success in whatever she pursued. "Elise Stefanik is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way!" the former president wrote.

Hochul quickly framed Stefanik’s withdrawal as a political victory for her re-election bid and suggested that Stefanik avoided a path that could have divided the party. A Hochul spokesperson noted Stefanik’s decision underlines the reality that a statewide race in New York would have been difficult for the Republican to win. In public polling ahead of the decision, Hochul led both Stefanik and Blakeman, even as more than half of New Yorkers expressed a desire for a change in governor.

Stefanik’s exit from the governor’s race also leaves in place her current seat in Congress through 2027. Earlier in the year, she had been discussed as a potential U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but President Trump withdrew that nomination to preserve a fragile Republican majority in Congress. In a post on Truth Social, Trump echoed the sentiment that Stefanik would have success in future endeavors, reiterating his support for both Stefanik and Blakeman.

As the party seeks to avoid a costly primary and maintain resources for a general-election push, Stefanik’s decision closes a chapter on a governor bid that had once appeared to be a major step in her political arc. While she remains a prominent figure in the party, her focus now shifts to finishing her term in the House and considering future roles that could emerge in a reshaped political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.

The broader reaction in Albany and Washington reflected a mix of relief and caution as Republicans recalibrated their approach in a state where Democratic incumbents have maintained a fundraising edge. Hochul’s camp argued that Stefanik’s withdrawal was a realistic outcome in a state that leans Democratic in statewide contests. The party’s focus now centers on unifying behind Blakeman while maintaining the resources needed to face Hochul in a likely rematch.

The shift also comes amid a broader national conversation about how Republican factions manage internal contests in strongholds for Democrats, with donors and strategists watching closely how Blakeman’s conservative and tax-cutting credentials will resonate with New York voters. Stefanik’s decision to step back from the race reduces the likelihood of a prolonged intra-party fight that could drain resources away from Hochul’s campaign and complicate coalition-building ahead of a statewide election.

Stefanik’s term in Congress is still set to run through 2027, and she has not ruled out future pursuits. Her withdrawal from the governor’s race could keep the political spotlight on her in New York as party leaders assess how to mobilize a coalition that can compete in a state that has shown a willingness to support a Democratic governor in recent cycles. The shift leaves the door open for Blakeman to cultivate a broad conservative coalition and offer a contrasting policy posture to Hochul in a political landscape that remains intensely competitive.