Stefanik laces into Hochul over immigration in preview of 2026 race

Gov. Kathy Hochul sparred with Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler – both potential GOP opponents for governor – during a House Oversight Committee hearing on state-level immigrant sanctuary policies. As Hochul defended New York’s policies from an onslaught of questioning from Republican lawmakers, Stefanik declared the state needed a better leader, while Lawler grilled the governor on specific policy positions.

Stefanik came out swinging during her time in the hearing as the first speaker after the committee’s chair and ranking member. She focused her remarks and questioning on a handful of high-profile crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants in New York, including the burning death of a sleeping woman on the subway that made headlines around the country. “Burning people alive,” Stefanik said. “That’s Kathy Hochul’s New York.” She also attacked the governor for not immediately recognizing the names of the alleged perpetrators in sensational crimes.

Hochul barely managed to get a word in during the exchange as Stefanik spoke over her. “I am telling you the policies of New York, we cooperate with ICE,” the governor began to say, before Stefanik cut her off to disagree. When Hochul called the described crimes horrific, Stefanik interjected to say they occurred because of New York’s sanctuary policies. “You are not advocating on behalf of these victims,” Stefanik said. “You are shielding illegals.”

Stefanik is openly exploring a run for governor, and current polling has her trouncing other rumored Republican candidates in a primary. The future of New York’s leadership clearly seemed top of mind as she questioned Hochul. “We deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers,” Stefanik said. “Doesn’t put illegals first, but actually puts New Yorkers first.” Hochul began to respond with a zinger – “Instead of going after a viral moment, I suggest you – “ but Stefanik cut her off again, drowning out the governor’s insistence that New York officials cooperate with ICE.

While the exchange didn’t quite compare to Stefanik’s infamous performance during high-profile hearings on antisemitism in 2023, her aggressive rhetorical style served its purpose by putting Hochul on the defensive as she previewed the kinds of attacks to expect in a race for governor next year. Stefanik almost immediately took to X to declare that Hochul had “implode(d),” while a government spokesperson for Hochul said Stefanik failed to “demolish” the governor. The hearing offered the first direct interaction between Hochul and Stefanik since the news broke that Stefanik is seriously considering a statewide campaign. Although Stefanik dominated the interaction, Hochul still managed to get the last word. “Your representation of facts (is) absolutely false,” Hochul said.

Lawler was among the last members to get time, but he made good use of it as one of the few people who seemed to make Hochul flustered. He took a different approach than Stefanik, who seemed more interested in creating a moment for herself rather than throwing Hochul off her game. Lawler opened his remarks by questioning Hochul about her past opposition to the Green Light Law, which permits undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license while limiting federal access to DMV data. Hochul now defends the law, but she admitted that “at the time” she was running for Congress, she indeed did not support the measure.

Lawler also pressed Hochul on more specifics, like expanding access to the state-funded Medicaid program to certain undocumented immigrants, the timing of renewing a sanctuary policy executive order and even her comment that she would “be the first one” to call ICE if someone is a criminal. “Have you personally called up ICE to get anyone out of New York?” Lawler asked. Hochul said that she used the royal “me” that also includes her agencies like the State Police. “You’re like Gov. Cuomo… I am the government?” Lawler responded, a deep-cut reference for New York politicos and a more general comparison to the former governor to rile Hochul up. “That’s your characterization, not mine,” Hochul quipped back.

Continuing his Albany-focused line of questioning, Lawler managed to somewhat trap Hochul in a rare instance of opining on pending legislation. He specifically asked about the New York for All Act, a bill that would codify and expand a number of sanctuary policies in the state. Hochul initially deflected, saying she would not deal in hypotheticals. But as Lawler kept pressing, insisting that the governor would sign the measure if it passed, she offered a nugget. “I have no confidence it’s going to pass,” Hochul said, the most concrete comment she has given about the high-profile bill that has prompted two acts of civil disobedience in Albany in as many days.

Though he didn’t make his own gubernatorial aspirations quite as clear as Stefanik in his questioning, Lawler didn’t miss the opportunity to ding Hochul more generally. “You’ve done a terrible job as governor… Frankly, New York is better off with you down here and not in the state,” Lawler said. But Hochul once again managed to get the last word. “When (the bill) lands on my desk, I will do the proper evaluation,” she said. “It’s what we do. That’s how you become a governor.”

Hochul fielded aggressive questioning from other Republican members of Congress as well, including from fellow Western New Yorker Rep. Nick Langworthy and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan (who made some hyper specific references to Tompkins County). The hearing lasted over five hours, and also included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Hochul largely held her own during the hearing, repeatedly asserting her commitment to “secure borders” and working with federal immigration officials to deport criminals, while at the same time defending sanctuary policies like a law that allows undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses and an executive order that limits state officials’ cooperation with ICE. “Our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE criminal cases, and our values dictate that we treat all law-abiding people with dignity and respect,” Hochul said in her opening remarks. And in her own potentially viral moment, the governor welcomed President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to try arresting her if she continues to follow state rules that protect undocumented immigrants. “Tom Homan comes to Albany to arrest me? I'll say go for it,” Hochul said.