Another rising star quits politics.
Elise Stefanik is suspending her gubernatorial campaign, and won’t seek reelection to a sixth term in Congress.
The North Country Republican said the challenge of unseating Gov. Kathy Hochul had been difficult from the start but became harder when Republican Bruce Blakeman, the county executive of Nassau County, announced his candidacy earlier this month, setting up a primary that many in the GOP had hoped to avoid.
“After a great deal of reflection and discussions with my family, it’s just not the right political time,” Stefanik said in an interview Friday morning, a few hours before she posted her decision on X. “Part of our assumption was there would be no primary, and while we would overwhelmingly have won that primary, it’s a challenge in a state like New York — even in a perfect political year.”
And for Republicans, 2026 seems unlikely to be anything close to perfect.
Election results last month suggest that the Democratic electorate is energized and motivated, a problem for any Republican seeking to win in New York. President Donald J. Trump’s sagging approval rating also won’t help
Stefanik also said it would be difficult to run in New York while serving in Congress, but she emphasized that her decision was more than a political calculation. She wants to spend more time with her 4-year-old son.
Sure, ok. The fact is that despite her completely turning herself inside out for him, Trump treated her like shit, just as he does all women in one way or another. Like Marge, the veil has fallen from her eyes — these people have no respect for her and she has no future in politics.
To be a MAGA heroine, you have to look like this:
Happy Hollandaise, everyone!