Elise Stefanik Signals Run to Take Down Kathy Hochul

New York’s next political showdown may have just kicked off and it could spell the end for Democrat Kathy Hochul.

Rising Republican powerhouse Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is strongly signaling a 2026 gubernatorial run, issuing a fiery statement Wednesday that calls out Hochul’s catastrophic leadership and blasts her approval rating now sitting at a dismal 39%, according to the latest Marist poll.

“We must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK,” Stefanik wrote. “Hochul is the Worst Governor in America, and it’s not even close.”

And she’s not wrong. The data backs up Stefanik’s blistering critique:

• 57% of New Yorkers don’t want Hochul to run again including 40% of Democrats.

• 64% say the state’s economy is getting worse, a sharp rise from just 51% a year ago.

• New York continues to lose businesses and residents to states like Florida and Texas, driven by high taxes, soft-on-crime policies, and endless red tape.

Stefanik is laying out a clear contrast to Hochul’s far-left agenda. In her statement, she took direct aim at:

• Hochul’s sanctuary city policies, which prioritize illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens;

• Bail reform laws that have unleashed repeat offenders onto the streets;

• Skyrocketing taxes and regulatory policies that are driving families and businesses out in droves;

• Fiscal mismanagement that’s left the state reeling from incompetence and corruption.

Stefanik has been a loyal Trump ally and was even considered for U.N. Ambassador in a second Trump term until Trump himself reportedly decided her seat in Congress was too important to lose. The GOP flipped her district in 2014 after Democrats held it for over 20 years, and she’s since climbed to become a leading voice for America First values in the House.

Trump himself weighed in with a short but telling endorsement on Truth Social:

“Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!”

With the governor’s mansion in play and Hochul more unpopular than ever, Stefanik would enter the race as a top-tier Republican contender. While Rep. Mike Lawler is also reportedly eyeing a run, Stefanik’s national profile, fundraising prowess, and support from Trump’s base would make her the clear frontrunner.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are in disarray. Hochul’s weakness has already opened the door to potential primary challengers like radical Rep. Jamaal Bowman yes, the same guy who pulled a fire alarm to delay a House vote and Rep. Ritchie Torres. The party is divided, out of touch, and losing the confidence of its own voters.

New York doesn’t need more woke policies, more crime, or more excuses. It needs a course correction. Stefanik may just be the one to deliver it.

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