Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s sudden exit from New York’s gubernatorial race sent shockwaves through state politics as she cited family priorities, strategic realities, and a broader pattern of political turbulence gripping both parties.
Stefanik, a New York Republican and once a rising star within the GOP, announced Friday that she was suspending her campaign for governor just weeks after officially entering the race in November.
The move also clarified that she will not seek another term in Congress, placing her among a growing list of Republican lawmakers stepping away from electoral politics.
In her announcement, Stefanik argued that the decision was driven less by political weakness than by practical considerations about time, resources, and the realities of campaigning in a deep blue state.
While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family.
I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 19, 2025
She said she remained confident she would have prevailed in the Republican primary but questioned whether the prolonged contest would ultimately serve New Yorkers or the conservative movement.
“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,” Stefanik wrote in a lengthy post on X.
She followed by explaining that remaining in the race would divert donor money and organizational focus in a way that did not make sense given the state’s political environment.
“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 added.
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Stefanik also framed the decision through a personal lens, describing the toll that a statewide campaign would take on her family life, particularly her young son.
She said the demands of the race forced her to confront how much time she was willing to sacrifice.
“And while many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom,” Stefanik said. “I believe that being a parent is life’s greatest gift and greatest responsibility.”
“I have thought deeply about this and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don’t further focus on my young son’s safety, growth, and happiness — particularly at his tender age.”
Her departure marked another sharp turn in a political career that has repeatedly shifted course in recent months.
Earlier this year, Stefanik was selected by President Donald Trump as his first choice to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, a role that prompted her to relinquish her House leadership position and begin the Senate confirmation process.
That nomination was later withdrawn by Republican leadership, citing historically narrow margins in the House that made her continued presence in Congress strategically important. The administration ultimately confirmed Rep. Mike Waltz for the post instead.
After returning to Capitol Hill, Stefanik launched her gubernatorial campaign in November, positioning herself as a conservative alternative to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Her Friday announcement now signals a step back from elected office.
Even as she exited the race, Stefanik remained active on policy disputes involving New York’s Democratic leadership.
Alongside House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, she pressed Gov. Hochul to explain why New York City public schools were using curriculum and instructional materials funded by Qatar and what the lawmakers described as malign domestic actors.
In a letter obtained by the New York Post, the Republicans accused the New York City Department of Education of withholding materials related to the September 11 attacks and the October 7 Hamas massacre.
“The [NYC] DOE has refused to provide copies of teaching materials that twist the narratives of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel,” Stefanik and Comer wrote.
They pointed specifically to $1 million in funding from Qatar Foundation International that flowed to P.S. 261 in Cobble Hill and P.S./I.S. 30 in Bay Ridge, as well as materials produced by Bridging Cultures, an organization led by Dr. Debbie Almontaser, who also heads the Muslim Community Network.
According to the lawmakers, the Muslim Community Network has a record of minimizing Islamist violence, opposing federal funding for the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and attacking those who highlight the role of radical Islam in terrorist attacks.
Bridging Cultures, they noted, has conducted workshops addressing the Hamas attacks in ways they say remove Israeli suffering from the narrative. Since 2014, the two organizations have collectively received at least $14.7 million from New York City.
“The NYC DOE partnered with Bridging Cultures to train teachers on how to speak to students about 10/7, the war in Gaza, and the anti-Israel protest movement,” Stefanik and Comer said.
The lawmakers demanded that Hochul turn over contracts, curriculum documents, and explanations for the partnerships.
Hochul’s office dismissed the request, saying Stefanik “misunderstand[s] how New York’s education system and mayoral control operate.”
During a November appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo,” Stefanik warned that Hochul, who endorsed New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, would continue legitimizing his agenda.
“We know that Kathy Hochul will bend the knee. She already did so in her endorsement,” Stefanik said, arguing that Hochul failed to challenge Mamdani’s statements on policing, taxes, and property rights.
Bartiromo noted that many of Mamdani’s promises would require state approval, a point Stefanik acknowledged while referencing constitutional provisions allowing governors to remove mayors under certain circumstances.
“In terms of removing the mayor from office, of course that’s in the New York State Constitution, and I will follow the Constitution,” Stefanik said before pivoting to other policy issues.
Stefanik’s exit comes as Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming also announced her retirement from politics, adding to signs of transition within the GOP.
Lummis, a freshman senator first elected in 2020, said Friday that the demands of the job had taken a toll after several exhausting session weeks.
She previously served in the House from 2009 to 2017 and held multiple roles in Wyoming state government.
“What a blessing to serve with Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi when I was in the U.S. House, and with John and Rep. Harriet Hageman while I’ve been in the Senate,” Lummis said.
Thank you, Wyoming! Serving our state has been the honor of my life. – Cynthia Lummis pic.twitter.com/FoRTlHaHxI
— Cynthia Lummis 🦬 (@CynthiaMLummis) December 19, 2025
She reiterated her commitment to Wyoming but acknowledged that she no longer had the stamina required for another term.
“Deciding not to run for reelection does represent a change of heart for me, but in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do not have six more years in me,” Lummis said.
“I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match up.”
Despite stepping aside, Lummis pledged continued support for President Trump and Republican priorities.
“I am honored to have earned the support of President Trump and to have the opportunity to work side by side with him to fight for the people of Wyoming,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing this partnership and throwing all my energy into bringing important legislation to his desk in 2026 and into retaining commonsense Republican control of the U.S. Senate. Thank you, Wyoming!”
