A guide to New York Republicans’ infighting

Bruce Blakeman, who lost the gubernatorial race to Gov. Kathy Hochul by roughly 20 points, accused outgoing upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik of not “lifting a finger” to help Republican candidates this year. Now state Republican party members are, in fact, lifting fingers – but only to point at each other. 

Before Blakeman was the Republican nominee for governor, Stefanik had been endorsed to run against Hochul by the state GOP party. When Stefanik dropped out, she announced she wouldn’t be running for reelection to Congress either, clearing the way for Anthony Constantino to run for, and win, her current seat. 

Constantino’s slim victory over Democrat Blake Gendebien in the 21st Congressional District was a rare win for New York Republicans this week – along with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ reelection on Staten Island and southern Brooklyn. In a swing district, Rep. Mike Lawler lost his seat to Democrat Cait Conley. And down the ballot, Democrats won historic majorities in both the State Senate and the Assembly. 

In the aftermath of the GOP’s disastrous night, party members have been preoccupied with arguing on social media, with some calling for a complete overhaul of the state party. But all the finger-pointing can be dizzying, so City & State compiled a guide to who’s mad at who, and for what. 

Rep.-elect Anthony Constantino

Supporting: Elise Stefanik

Blaming: Bruce Blakeman, state GOP 

Constantino, a prolific poster, kicked things off with a late night tirade against state Republican Party officials hours after his victory. He compared Blakeman on the campaign trail to a “headless chicken going from stupid dinner, to stupid dinner,” and complained the gubernatorial candidate only ever asked him for “a free dinner at Mar a Lago.” Constantino also called for the firing of Ed Cox, the chair of the New York Republican State Committee, while also calling him “dumb as rocks.” Constantino thanked Stefanik, and later defended her, saying she gave him “great advice.”  

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman

Blaming: Stefanik, Constantino 

Blakeman’s mad at Stefanik, who told the New York Post that he was a “low energy candidate.” He responded on X by calling her a “selfish, do-nothing politician.” His only other X post after the election was calling Constantino “by far the worst candidate he’s ever encountered.” 

Rep. Elise Stefanik

Supporting: Herself

Blaming: State GOP, Blakeman 

After criticizing Blakeman in the Post and then being blamed on social media, Stefanik defended herself, claiming that she worked to raise $100 million for Republicans across the state and country over the past decade. She did, however, get a dig in, mentioning that she’s never lost any of her elections, so she can’t necessarily relate. 

New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov

Supporting: Stefanik

Blaming: Blakeman

The New York City Council member replied to Blakeman’s post to defend Stefanik, saying that Stefanik “was and is a star” in the Republican party. She added that no elected Republican with “half a brain” believed that Blakeman would beat Hochul. 

Former Rep. George Santos

Supporting: Constantino, Vernikov, Stefanik

Blaming: Blakeman, State GOP

Before his planned cold plunge, Santos found time to weigh in on the infighting: he called Blakeman “pathetic” and said he should “hang his head in shame” for criticizing Stefanik; he responded to Vernikov’s post defending Stefanik with a simple thumbs up and he seconded Constantino’s post bashing the state GOP, telling him to “go get them.”   

New York Young Republican Club

Supporting: Stefanik

Blaming: State GOP, Blakeman

The club has called for Cox to resign and called Blakeman a sore loser, though some members are taking to their personal social media to opine. Stefano Forte, the president of the organization, called Blakeman’s campaign a grift, and told Gothamist that the state party needs to be “gutted.” Mario Nicoletto, who is the chairman of the campaign committee, called Stefanik a patriot, adding that she was ready to do what the state GOP was incapable of. 

Ed Cox, state GOP chair

Cox would like the finger-pointing to stop altogether. “This is not the time for accusations or a circular firing squad,” he said in a statement Friday afternoon. “It’s a time for Republicans to regroup, come together and develop a strategy for moving forward.”