U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik officially launched her campaign to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 New York gubernatorial election, bringing in Donald Trump and political energy back to the Empire State spotlight.
The North Country Republican, a close Trump ally, unveiled her candidacy in a fiery two-and-a-half-minute campaign ad posted Friday on X (formerly Twitter).
Elise Stefanik Announces Her Bid to “Fire Hochul”
In her campaign video, Stefanik wasted no time blaming Hochul for the state’s high cost of living and mass exodus of residents.
“Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America,” Stefanik declared. “Under her failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, utilities, rent, and grocery bills.”
Stefanik vowed to “make New York affordable and safe again,” promising a campaign that would unite “Democrats, Republicans, and Independents” to rescue the state from what she called “a raging Defend-the-Police, tax-hiking catastrophe.”
Her ad features clips from local news reports and headlines citing rising living costs and crime, portraying Hochul as out of touch with working families. “It’s time to save New York,” the ad concludes, promising that “Elise Stefanik will clean up Kathy Hochul’s catastrophe and restore New York’s greatness.”
Linking Hochul to NYC’s Socialist Mayor-Elect
In her first interview following the announcement, Stefanik joined Fox & Friends to double down on her criticism of Hochul, this time linking her to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist who won Tuesday’s mayoral race.
