UPDATE: Just hours after announcing her candidacy for New York governor in 2026, Republican U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik has garnered swift support from state GOP leaders, positioning her as a formidable contender against incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul.
As of Friday afternoon, Stefanik revealed that 56 county Republican chairs, representing over 72% of the weighted vote, have endorsed her campaign, signaling a significant consolidation of support within the party. “I am incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support all across New York,” Stefanik stated. “We have the infrastructure and support to mount the most unified campaign for a Republican candidate to defeat Kathy Hochul to save our state.”
In addition to the county chairs, Stefanik has secured endorsements from state Republican Party Chair Ed Cox and a majority of the Republican members in the state Assembly, including Minority Leader Will Barclay. The backing from the GOP extends beyond party lines, with State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar affirming that “the critical mass of support for Congresswoman Stefanik ensures that she will be the Conservative Party nominee for governor.”
Currently, no other substantial GOP candidates have declared their candidacies, although the political landscape could still change as the 2026 election approaches. In the previous election cycle, former Representative Lee Zeldin emerged as the party favorite but was forced to navigate a competitive primary against three challengers.
The New York GOP is set to hold its convention early next year to formally nominate their candidate. Stefanik, who has represented New York’s expansive 21st Congressional District in the North Country for the last decade, aims to unseat Kathy Hochul and end two decades of Democratic dominance in the Empire State’s executive mansion. Hochul, who is running for a second full term, faces at least one opponent from within her party, her own lieutenant governor.
This swift accumulation of endorsements highlights the urgency and stakes of the upcoming election, making it clear that Stefanik is poised to be the Republican standard-bearer. As the political climate evolves, all eyes will be on her campaign and the developments that will unfold in the coming months.
