Stefanik attends clambake fundraiser ahead of potential run for governor

Broome County Republicans are rallying ahead of a crucial 2026 for the 19th Congressional District as they hope to return the seat to Republican control. But on Tuesday, everyone’s focus was on Albany as Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik toured the state ahead of an expected campaign for governor.

The North Country Republican has been popping up all over the state while Congress is in recess, primarily in upstate New York where her constituents and a large portion of the state’s conservative population reside. Polling has shown her leading a hypothetical field of candidates in a Republican gubernatorial primary for months, and she’s been a national political figure for years. 

Stefanik didn’t give any public hints about a possible run for governor at a clambake fundraiser in Vestal, but as always, she had sharp words for the governor. “Kathy Hochul, the worst governor in America, she has not allowed us to ‘frack, baby, frack,’” Stefanik said to an applauding crowd, adding that the state’s current restrictive policies surrounding the natural gas and oil extraction methods are limiting the state’s energy independence.

Republicans hope that if Stefanik is able to build a groundswell of support throughout the state, particularly with independents, they will also be able to grow their ranks in the state Senate.

Democratic control of the state Senate is relatively new in New York, with the party whittling away seats this century and briefly maintaining a supermajority until state Sen. Iwen Chu lost her seat last year. The Assembly, however, has been controlled by Democrats since 1975.

But barring a massive change of heart for many New York voters, a Stefanik administration would see the Trump-aligned Republican needing to hammer out budgets with a Democratic-controlled state Legislature. New York is known for late spending plans as it is, and the process would only get worse under divided government. 

Stefanik was unfazed at the prospect of a tough spring hammering out the state spending plan. “The powers of the governor are immense in the budget process, and Kathy Hochul has been beholden to the far left in her party,” she told reporters. “She is bending the knee to the antisemitic Communist who is likely to become the New York City Mayor.”

Hochul, who has so far refused to endorse Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, is regularly criticized by the left as far too conservative on a myriad of social and political issues. But Republicans have consistently attacked her and the state Legislature as a whole for what they perceive as radical policies in policy areas like criminal justice and the environment.

The governor recently released her first campaign ad as she balances fighting off a progressive primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado with a general election campaign that will test her popularity throughout the state.

Following Stefanik’s criticism of Hochul at the clambake fundraiser, the governor released her own rebuttal.

“Sellout Stefanik is so scared of running against Governor Hochul she’d rather invent a different opponent than face the facts,” Hochul campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika told City & State in a statement. “Governor Hochul is cutting middle class taxes and cracking down on crime while Stefanik backs Trump’s tariff tax hikes, goes soft on guns and cop-beaters and works for Trump – not New Yorkers.”