Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a staunch pro-life advocate and six-term congresswoman from New York, announced Friday she will run for governor in 2026.
That positions her as a direct challenger to Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul,who signed a radical bill allowing abortions up to birth in New York and protecting abortionists who illegally send abortion pills to pro-life states to kill babies.
Stefanik, a close ally of President Donald Trump and a vocal defender of unborn life, made her intentions clear today in a video she shared on social media.
The announcement comes amid growing frustration among New York’s pro-life community with Hochul’s policies, which include enshrining expansive abortion into state law and using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions up to birth.
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Stefanik’s entry into the race offers conservatives a high-profile opportunity to push back against the governor’s radical agenda on life issues.
Stefanik, 41, has built a national profile as a fierce pro-life warrior in Congress, consistently voting to protect the rights of the unborn and opposing federal funding for abortion.
Her decision to leave her safe House seat in the 21st Congressional District — which she has held since 2014 — underscores the stakes in a state where Republicans have struggled to break Democratic dominance. New York, once a Republican stronghold, has shifted sharply left under leaders like Hochul, who has touted her pro-abortion record as a cornerstone of her governance.
The timing of Stefanik’s bid appears tied to Hochul’s recent endorsement of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, the newly-elected New York City mayor known for extreme left-wing positions.
She said: “Kathy Hochul is an absolute disgrace. My phone has been ringing off the hook with people who are appalled that she has made this decision to embrace every radical position he stands for. It’s bad for New York City. It’s bad for New York State. And people are going to hold her accountable next November.”
Hochul, who assumed the governorship in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, faces headwinds including a potential primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who also backed Mamdani.
A recent poll showed Stefanik running neck and neck with the governor.
