ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress.
In a post on X, Stefanik, a Republican ally of President Donald Trump, said 鈥渋t 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.鈥�
Stefanik was facing Bruce Blakeman, the executive of Nassau County, in what was expected to be a bitter Republican primary in the governor’s race to take on Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
State Republican Chairman Ed Cox said the party respected Stefanik鈥檚 decision and thanked her for her efforts.
鈥淏ruce Blakeman has my endorsement and I urge our State Committee and party leaders to join me,鈥� Cox said in a prepared statement. 鈥淏ruce is a fighter who has proven he knows how to win in difficult political terrain.”
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
