1 of 2 | U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on January 21. She announced her bid to be New York governor on Friday. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik officially announced Friday that she’s running to unseat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 gubernatorial election.
The Republican representative revealed her intentions in 2.5-minute campaign ad posted on X.
“Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America,” Stefanik, who represents Upstate New York’s 21st Congressional District, wrote in her post along with the video.
“Under her failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery bills. When New Yorkers are looking for leadership from our Governor, she bent the knee to the raging Defend the Police, Tax Hiking Communist causing catastrophe for New York families.”
Stefanik said “it’s time to fire Hochul” so she can make the state affordable and safe for everyone.
“Democrats, Republicans, and Independents will unify to save our state.”
Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America. Under her failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery bills. When New Yorkers were looking for leadership from our Governor, she bent… pic.twitter.com/HXyQlNIjEj— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 7, 2025
The new ad opens with clips from various news articles and TV broadcasts blaming Hochul and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for rising costs. The second half of the video touts the policies Stefanik supports.
“Elise Stefanik will clean up Kathy Hochul’s catastrophe and restore New York’s greatness,” a voiceover says. “It’s time to save New York.”
Hochul, who became lieutenant governor in 2014, took over as governor in 2021 after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned over sexual harassment allegations. Prior to becoming his running mate, she represented New York’s 26th Congressional District in Western New York from 2011 to 2013. She was the first Democrat to represent the district — which includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls — in some four decades.
Stefanik was elected to represent the 21st Congressional District in 2015 and currently holds the seat.
This week in Washington
President Donald Trump greets the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban outside the West Wing of the White House on Friday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
