Stefanik Ends Governor Campaign, Leaving Blakeman Atop GOP Race

U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik announced Friday afternoon that she would be ending her campaign for governor, ending a primary race between Stefanik and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman just 10 days after it began.

Stefanik had planned to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in the race; Hochul is currently facing a challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. A Siena poll released this week showed Hochul with a 19-point lead over Stefanik and a 25-point lead over Blakeman in the race. Among Republican voters, Stefanik lead Hochul by an 82-to-7 percent margin, while Blakeman led 73-7. After Friday’s announcement, however, the closer of the two Republicans to Hochul had left the field.

“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,” Stefanik said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Friday.

"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," Stefanik added.

Blakeman's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.