Elise Stefanik Withdraws from NY Governor Race and Resigns from Congress

Peloni:  It is interesting that Stefanik was first past over for a role in the Trump administration as UN Ambassador only to next be overlooked for an endorsement for the governors race.  Currently, she stands as the chair of the House Republican Conference and has held that position from 2021 to 2025 as the fourth-ranking House Republican.  She entered the congress back in 2015 when she was initially an open critic of Trump’s presidential candidacy, only to later become one of his greatest champions while giving daily press briefings alongside Rep. Jim Jordan during the Russia Hoax as well as during Trump’s first impeachment.  Despite all of this, Stefanik rose to near celebrity familiarity during the televised hearings on antisemitism on US campuses.  Her role in questioning Harvard President Gay on whether the calls for genocide of Jews was might violate Harvard’s regulations importantly led to Gay’s subsequent resignation.  Last year, during her visit to Israel, Stefanik made the unabashed statement that the perpetrators of October 7 should be wiped from the earth.  As Stefanik’s meteoric rise within the Republican party is now coming to an abruptly sharp end, I can only offer my own regrets in seeing America lose a leader who had the courage, honesty and temerity to unequivocally ask hard questions of evil institutions while speaking frankly against the greatest atrocities of our age.  Such qualities are hard to find in general, and infinitely less reliable among politicians.  Her absence on the US political scene will be greatly missed.

ELISE STEFANIK | X

Photo by Office of Representative Elise Stefanik – Facebook, Public Domain, Wikipedia

While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family.

I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York.

However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York.

And while many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom. I believe that being a parent is life’s greatest gift and greatest responsibility. I have thought deeply about this and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don’t further focus on my young son’s safety, growth, and happiness – particularly at his tender age.

I am incredibly grateful to the people of New York’s 21st District for entrusting me to represent you in the United States Congress. Thank you to my dedicated staff over the past decade. I am proud of the significant results that we successfully delivered for the hardworking families in our district and across America. It has been a tremendous professional honor to serve as your Congresswoman over the past eleven years.

Thank you for your support and encouragement as my family and I look forward to the next meaningful personal and professional chapter.

God Bless and Merry Christmas ?

[source]