Republican Elise Stefanik ends New York governor bid

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has withdrawn from New York's 2026 gubernatorial race and will not pursue congressional re-election, citing her desire to prioritize family time with her young son. Her exit follows Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's recent entry into the race, which would have created a competitive Republican primary between two Trump allies. Stefanik, who has represented a northern New York district since 2014 and became a prominent Trump defender during his first impeachment, stated she believes a primary fight would not be an effective use of time or resources.