Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/TNS)

Rep. Elise Stefanik testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations on Capitol Hill on Jan. 21.

Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday morning she is running for governor.

GOP officials across the state were primed to praise and support the Saratoga County Republican, with many of them suggesting a unified front for the congresswoman.

Stefanik’s campaign put out a press release Friday announcing she has secured endorsements for her run for the state’s top office from more than 72% of the weighted vote for her nomination from 56 Republican County chairpersons. Republican committees missing from the endorsement list include counties in Long Island, as well as the Bronx, Rockland, Clinton and Wayne counties.

On Friday, New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox released a statement addressing Stefanik’s campaign announcement and condemning Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the Democrats, for New York’s alleged status as “the most taxed, least free, least affordable state in America.”

In Stefanik’s campaign announcement, the congresswoman repeated her claim that Hochul is “the worst governor in America.”

Cox suggested in the statement there would be a guaranteed nomination for Stefanik.

“There will not be a Republican primary and a year from now, Elise will lead our team to victory over Kathy Hochul, end one-party Democrat rule, and make New York affordable again,” Cox said.

The last time a Republican gubernatorial primary was not held in New York was in 2014, when Republican candidate Rob Astorino went unopposed for the nomination and was defeated by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“I would be very surprised,” Montgomery County GOP Chairman Rob Barone said Friday, when asked about another contender for the Republican nomination. “I look forward to actually campaigning for her … She’s done an awful lot in Congress, and she’s done an awful lot for her constituency, and I think she’ll do a great job, especially as governor in New York state.”

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Schenectady, said Stefanik running for governor is “unwelcome news,” adding she has abandoned her constituents by supporting harmful policies, including reducing SNAP benefits and voting to cut Medicaid.

“There is such a need out there,” Tonko said. “When you look at our region of the country, the numbers of highest need are in that 21st Congressional District. Where are you? Where’s your voice. If you can’t show leadership for your people in the 21st Congressional District, how do you step forward and say I want to bring that kind of leadership to the state of New York. It’s unwelcome news. You have a person who has shown no heart.”

In Saratoga County, GOP Chairman Joe Suhrada said Saratoga County was the first county to endorse Stefanik.

“I endorsed her on May 1 of this year when she started considering the idea,” said Suhrada. “We were all 100% in. There isn’t a town in the county that wouldn’t be behind her, and we really love her, and we know her the best, so we know what she’s capable of.

“We were proud to endorse her on May 1 for governor before anyone else did,” Suhrada added. “We know her best as a taxpayer, a family woman, a mom, a neighbor and as a citizen. There hasn’t been a better prepared and courageous human being to fix the damage Kathy Hochul has inflicted on our state … As a strong and intelligent woman, she is uniquely qualified and, without a doubt, the most capable leader to point us back to sanity. Today, we put our full faith in her in every way to be governor.”

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar weighed in on Stefanik officially throwing her hat into the ring.

“We’ve really been strong supporters for Elise, whether it be on the congressional level or now as a candidate for governor, for forever, really,” Kassar said. “We are, frankly, very happy that she has announced and we can just move on to the real battle on issues.”

Prospective Contenders for District 21

At the time that Stefanik’s U.N. ambassadorship was still on the table, a number of Republican officials, and other individuals, expressed interest in running for her seat in Congress in the event that a special election would take place. Those officials included Assemblyman Chris Tague, R,C-Schoharie, who is running for state Senate.

“Stefanik’s leadership would restore balance, accountability, and hope,” Tague said in a statement Friday. “…I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Elise Stefanik.”

“Together, we’re going to send a message loud and clear: New York belongs to the people again, not the politicians, not the bureaucrats, and definitely not the radicals running the show right now,” Tague said.

Schenectady County GOP Chairperson Liz Joy was also considering running at the time.

“I am not running,” she said Friday. “I gave my word to the Schenectady County GOP in September. My goal is to raise funds for our county GOP to make our messaging streamlined and strong and to increase out voter base and to increase out party.

“I had a really wonderful long conversation with Elise before she announced. Schenectady County is looking forward to working alongside her.”

Other contenders in the special election pool included Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino.

“It’s a widely known opinion that Constantino will not get support,” Joy added.

Assemblyman Robert Smullen, R,C-Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks, also announced his interest in running earlier this year if Stefanik pursued the governor’s seat. With Joy and Tague officially off the ballot, Smullen is one of the only former contenders who has not officially rescinded interest.

The vast and mostly rural 21st Congressional District covers 15 counties in the North County, Mohawk Valley and portions of the Capital region.

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