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FIRST ON FOX: Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s shock announcement on Friday night time that she is dropping out of the race for New York governor and leaving her seat in Congress was partly as a result of lack of full help from President Trump, Fox Information Digital has realized.
“The most important piece of this puzzle was Donald Trump and the truth that he handed 3 times on endorsing her candidacy, together with within the Oval Workplace with the Miracle on Ice Group final week,” a GOP supply near the scenario instructed Fox Information Digital. “I feel [that] performed the biggest position on this resolution,”
Stefanik’s authentic thought course of when she jumped into the race final month, in accordance with the supply, was that she would have a “clear shot” at present New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. However as soon as Trump ally and Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman announced his candidacy earlier this month, “it grew to become clear that was not going to occur.”
“Once you begin to add these items up, and also you see a contested main, you see an assumed ally within the president who passes on endorsing, and it doesn’t appear that you will have the wind to your again on this cycle, I feel [it] all performed into this,” the supply mentioned.
STEFANIK EXITS NY GOVERNOR RACE, WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO US HOUSE
U.S. President Donald Trump holds arms with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as Trump honors the 1980 U.S. Olympic males’s ice hockey staff within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Stefanik’s resolution to additionally depart Congress was based mostly on a sense that it was time to “transfer on,” the supply mentioned.
“I’m actually humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming help from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all throughout the state for our marketing campaign to Save New York,” Stefanik posted on X Friday afternoon.
“Nevertheless, as we now have seen in previous elections, whereas we’d have overwhelmingly received this main, it’s not an efficient use of our time or your beneficiant assets to spend the primary half of subsequent 12 months in an pointless and protracted Republican main, particularly in a difficult state like New York.”
Stefanik has been a staunch ally of President Trump throughout her time in Congress, together with defending him throughout each of his impeachments. Trump nominated Stefanik to function U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a high-profile cabinet-level place, earlier than the nomination was pulled to guard the GOP’s razor-thin majority within the Home and amid worries Republicans might lose Stefanik’s seat to the Democrats in a particular election.
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Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., talks at a Home Committee on Schooling and the Workforce listening to. (AP/Mariam Zuhaib)
After Blakeman joined the race for governor, Trump opted to remain impartial, telling reporters on the White House after Blakeman introduced his candidacy that “Elise is incredible and Bruce is.”
“Two incredible folks, and I at all times hate it when two excellent pals of mine are operating, and I hope there’s not numerous injury completed,” the president added.
Hochul’s re-election marketing campaign launched a press release on Friday shifting its consideration to Blakeman.
“Elise Stefanik has lastly acknowledged actuality: When you run in opposition to Governor Kathy Hochul, you’ll lose,” Hochul’s marketing campaign mentioned in a press launch Friday. “As Donald Trump raises prices on New Yorkers and targets this state relentlessly, Governor Hochul has reduce middle-class taxes, put a refund in New Yorkers’ pockets, and fought this administration and received when New York has come below assault.”
“The very fact is, ‘100% MAGA’ Bruce Blakeman traveled all the best way to D.C. to rejoice Trump’s tariffs, he ran Lengthy Island’s security internet hospital into the bottom by appointing corrupt cronies to run it, and let violent crime in Nassau County spike to its highest stage in a decade. Governor Hochul’s message to him or whichever lackey Trump picks to run in opposition to her is straightforward: Deliver it on.”
The supply confirmed to Fox Information Digital that “a number of county leaders are reaching out to Congressman Mike Lawler” as a possible candidate, including it’s “untimely” to imagine the New York GOP is “coalescing round Blakeman.”
“Very fluid. Many of us are taking time to regroup.”
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Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman celebrates reelection on the Nassau Republican GOP headquarters on election night time on the Coral Home in Baldwin, Nov. 4, 2025. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM by way of Getty Pictures)
The supply did say that Blakeman “is usually a robust candidate” and that the “Mamdani impact” is one thing Hochul will nonetheless need to fight in a normal election.
“I want Congresswoman Stefanik nothing however success as she pursues her priorities and continues her service to our nation,” Blakeman posted on X Friday. “At this pivotal second for New York, it’s important that Republicans and all New Yorkers come collectively in unity.”
Lawler responded to the information in a put up on X saying that Stefanik “has been a terrific Congresswoman” and “would have been an excellent governor.”
“As her good friend and colleague, I respect her resolution and need her and her household all one of the best as she strikes ahead.”
The White Home directed Fox Information Digital to the social media reactions from the president and his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
In a Fact Social put up on Friday, Trump responded to Stefanik’s announcement, writing, “Elise Stefanik, a incredible individual and Congresswoman from New York State, has simply introduced she received’t be operating for Governor. Elise is an incredible expertise, no matter what she does. She can have GREAT success, and I’m along with her all the best way!”
Leavitt additionally posted reward of Stefanik on social media.
“Elise Stefanik has been an unimaginable advocate for the folks of her district in Upstate New York, and she’s going to at all times be a real good friend to President Trump,” Leavitt posted on X. “On a private word, Elise is my former boss. She is a good chief, and a good higher individual. We love you, @EliseStefanik!”
Fox Information Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report
