Rep. Elise Stefanik has suspended her campaign for New York governor and said she will not be seeking reelection for her House seat, either.
“I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York,” Ms. Stefanik, New York Republican, wrote in a statement Friday.
She said she “did not come to this decision lightly for our family.”
“However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York,” she said.
Ms. Stefanik, 41, entered the race in November to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.
There was speculation that Rep. Mike Lawler, New York Republican, would also jump in the race, but he said in July that he would not be running. He instead is running for reelection for his House seat and has secured an endorsement from President Trump.
Immediately after Ms. Stefanik’s announcement, Mr. Trump offered support.
“Elise Stefanik, a fantastic person and Congresswoman from New York State, has just announced she won’t be running for Governor. Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman jumped into the governor’s race this month, complicating the field for Ms. Stefanik.
Both Republicans are in Mr. Trump’s good graces, and he has spoken highly of both of them, but hasn’t shared an endorsement for either one.
The president told Mr. Blakeman, “Good luck, you are a good man,” during a Hanukkah reception at the White House Wednesday night, according to a video obtained by The Washington Times.
Ms. Stefanik’s departure leaves Mr. Blakeman as the only GOP candidate in the governor’s race.
State GOP Chair Ed Cox quickly endorsed Mr. Blakeman after the news of Ms. Stefanik.
“Bruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me,” Mr. Cox said in a statement. “Bruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain. As County Executive, he cut taxes, fought against radical leftwing social policies and made Nassau County the safest county in America.”
Sources familiar with the Stefanik campaign characterized Mr. Blakeman’s move as selfish, saying in a statement that he got into the GOP primary “even though he knew there was no path [to win], for the sole purpose of raising his profile and undermining her general election campaign against Kathy Hochul.”
State Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said he was “disappointed that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik won’t be running for governor this year, but we respect her decision and wish her the best in all her future endeavors.”
“Elise is an asset to our state and nation. I have no doubt we’ll see her shine in future roles,” he said in a statement.
Ms. Stefanik was nominated by the president to become United Nations ambassador last November, but the nomination was rescinded earlier this year over concerns about her departure affecting the slim majority held by the GOP in the House.
The governor’s race is a tough one for Republicans. Mr. Blakeman isn’t considered well known outside of Long Island, and the last time New York elected a Republican governor was George Pataki, who served three terms, from 1995 to 2006.
• Jeff Mordock and Kerry Picket contributed to this story.
