GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik is considering a run for governor of New York

WASHINGTON – Rep. Elise Stefanik, a subordinate of House Republican enactment and onetime nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is considering a tally for New York governor, according to a idiosyncratic adjacent to her.

The idiosyncratic was granted anonymity to sermon interior deliberations. The state’s existent governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, was elected successful 2022 and is moving for reelection adjacent year.

Stefanik, a adjacent state and fierce defender of President Donald Trump, had been nominated to correspond the U.S. astatine the United Nations. But her information was pulled past month amid concerns astir leaving a Republican House spot vacant erstwhile the enactment has specified a constrictive bulk successful the chamber.

Trump, successful a Wednesday greeting station connected his societal media level Truth Social, wrote, “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!”

If Stefanik does participate the race, she mightiness look disconnected successful a Republican superior against Rep. Mike Lawler, who has been teasing a tally for respective months.

Kevin Donohoe, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said: “New York’s Republican superior is acceptable to beryllium a nasty and vicious contention to spot who tin beryllium the Trumpiest — and astir retired of interaction with New Yorkers.”

The past Republican politician successful New York was erstwhile Gov. George Pataki, who served 3 presumption betwixt 1995 and 2007. Lee Zeldin, existent caput of the national Environmental Protection Agency and erstwhile congressman from Long Island, mounted a superior situation to Hochul successful the governor's contention successful 2022, astir landing what would person been a large upset successful the heavy Democratic state.

Hochul herself is expected to look a contested primary. Her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, earlier this twelvemonth announced helium would not tally for reelection alongside the politician adjacent year, hinting alternatively astatine his ain gubernatorial candidacy. Rep. Ritchie Torres is besides rumored to beryllium considering a tally and has emerged arsenic 1 of the governor's astir pronounced Democratic critics.

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Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York.

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