Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik early on Nov. 7 declared her candidacy for governor of New York in a social media post. Stefanik, who has been among the most ardent of Donald Trump’s supporters, said she was hoping to bring together Republicans, Democrats and Independents to “save our state.”
She had been nominated by Trump to become the Trump administration’s ambassador to the U.N., but it President Trump withdrew her nomination when Republican leaders became concerned that moving her from Congress to the U.N. could jeopardize the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
Stefanik represents the New York 21st Congressional District in upstate New York. Within moments of Stefanik’s announcement, her campaign said that 56 chairman of Republican County Committee chairs in New York are endorsing her candidacy.
The Republican County chairs include: Westchester County Republican Committee Chair Douglas Colety; Dutchess County Republican Committee Chair Mike McCormack; Orange County Republican Committee Chair Courtney Canfield Greene; Putnam County Republican Committee Chair Andres Gil; Sullivan County Republican Committee Chair Rob Doherty; and Ulster County Republican Committee Chair Ken Ronk.
“Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America,” Stefanik said in her online post. “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.”
Stefanik later said she was grateful for the show of support from Republican leaders in New York.
“We have the infrastructure and support to mount the most unified campaign for a Republican candidate to defeat Kathy Hochul to save our state,” Stefanik added.
