Stefanik Halts Gubernatorial Bid, Leaves GOP Field Open for Blakeman
ALBANY, New York — In a surprising turn of events, Rep. Elise Stefanik has announced the suspension of her campaign for New York governor and will also not seek reelection for her House seat, a decision she shared on Friday.
“I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York,” she stated in a social media post.
Stefanik’s choice to withdraw stems from her recognition of the challenges of engaging in a prolonged Republican primary, particularly in a state like New York, which has not been particularly kind to the GOP in recent years. “While we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources,” she explained, hinting at the uphill battle ahead.
Stefanik’s gubernatorial aspirations took shape after President Donald Trump endorsed moderate GOP Rep. Mike Lawler for reelection in his swing House seat, effectively clearing the field for her entry. However, her campaign faced a new hurdle this month with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman throwing his hat into the ring. Both candidates are Trump allies, and the former president has publicly lauded them as “great.” Blakeman’s campaign has already begun airing ads during the holiday season, particularly in West Palm Beach, the site of Trump’s Florida residence.
In light of Stefanik’s departure, the Republican establishment is quickly uniting behind Blakeman. “Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me,” stated state GOP Chair Ed Cox. “Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain.” His track record includes cutting taxes and tackling what he describes as radical left-wing social policies, alongside boasting about making Nassau County the safest county in America.
Stefanik was once nominated by Trump for the position of United Nations ambassador, but that nomination was rescinded earlier this year due to concerns regarding the slim majority held by House Republicans. Shifting her focus to the governor’s race, she aimed to reclaim a seat that has eluded the GOP since George Pataki’s three consecutive terms.
From the outset, the race posed significant challenges for Stefanik. Her campaign frequently branded Gov. Kathy Hochul as the “worst governor in America,” attempting to draw parallels between Hochul and the incoming New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. However, early polling indicated a daunting race for Stefanik, with a Siena University survey revealing Hochul holding a substantial 19-point lead over her GOP challenger.
Although Stefanik was slated to be the highlight of the Oneida County GOP’s holiday dinner on Friday, she canceled her appearance, citing business in Washington—a curious excuse given that the House had already adjourned for the year.
Stefanik’s exit has left Blakeman as the lone candidate in the Republican field, as the party aims to break its 24-year drought in statewide contests by 2026. However, Blakeman remains relatively unknown outside of Long Island; a recent Siena poll indicated that 59 percent of Republicans have no opinion of him. While he has started to tour upstate in an effort to connect with potential voters, his outreach has yet to yield significant traction in the vote-rich northern New York region where Stefanik has established herself over the past decade.
Blakeman’s campaign has centered around law enforcement support and his electability, boasting a comfortable reelection win in the politically mixed Nassau County last month, despite the strong Democratic wave that swept across the rest of the state.
