Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) offers unsolicited advice as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) considers a run for governor of New York.
“Here’s my political advice for Elise Stefanik: Run, Elise, Run,” Jeffries told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
This comment signals that New York Democrats see potential in controlling the governor’s mansion—currently held by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who is aiming for reelection—if Stefanik decides to challenge her.
Just hours prior, Stefanik clashed with Hochul during a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, convened to scrutinize the contentious immigration policies of various Democrat-led states.
Although Stefanik is not a member of the committee, GOP leaders permitted her to attend the hearing, where she strongly confronted Hochul regarding New York’s designation as a sanctuary state.
Stefanik criticized Hochul for defending advocates of policies that she claims have contributed to a surge of violent crime in New York, committed by individuals residing in the country illegally, undermining public safety.
“These are terrible crimes occurring under your watch. You signed that executive order on your first day in office,” she stated. “We deserve governors who prioritize New Yorkers over illegal immigrants.”
Hochul countered, suggesting that Stefanik was merely using the opportunity to gain political visibility against potential opponents for next year’s gubernatorial race.
“I suggest you focus on factual accuracy rather than chasing an attention-grabbing moment,” Hochul responded. “Your interpretation of the facts is entirely incorrect.”
Stefanik, 40, was first elected to the House in 2014 and quickly earned a reputation as a pragmatic Republican and bipartisan dealmaker. However, her stance shifted after Trump’s ascendancy in the GOP, as she became a staunch partisan and one of Trump’s most loyal defenders in Congress.
Following the ousting of former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from her position as chair of the House Republican Conference for challenging Trump’s false election claims, it was Stefanik who ascended to leadership.
Earlier this year, Trump nominated Stefanik for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. However, that nomination was withdrawn in March due to concerns regarding its impact on Republican legislative strategies in a narrowly divided House.
This setback temporarily left Stefanik without a prominent leadership role, but she was subsequently appointed as chair of House Republican leadership, fueling speculation about her potential gubernatorial run in 2026.
Source: thehill.com