Crain’s New York: “Don’t bet on Elise Stefanik winning the governorship”

Crain’s New York: “Don’t bet on Elise Stefanik winning the governorship”

Crain’s New York Business detailed today how Trump loyalist Elise Stefanik “has her work cut out for her” if she runs for governor. Stefanik’s record as “a proud, unabashed Trump supporter” – who enthusiastically backs the president’s tariffs and efforts to gut health care to give billionaires tax cuts – will be a major anchor for her in any potential race for governor. As Crain’s points out, Stefanik’s record as a self-described ultra-MAGA Republican means that she is “no lock to win, or even be particularly competitive” in a gubernatorial race.

Read more from Crain’s New York Business about Elise Stefanik’s doomed bid for governor:

• But Stefanik is no lock to win, or even be particularly competitive. […] Her potential gubernatorial bid could fare much worse than Zeldin’s.

• […] All signs point to a Trump backlash not so dissimilar to 2018. Trump’s tariffs have destabilized the economy and threatened New York towns along the Canadian border. Inflation may worsen. DOGE and Elon Musk are hated by many Americans.

• Assuming Stefanik is the GOP nominee — and not Mike Lawler, the Republican congressman also exploring a bid — she’s not going to benefit from the large number of Republican-curious Democrats and independents who filled in the bubble next to Zeldin’s name in 2022.

• She’ll have the problem many frontline Republican lawmakers are facing: a polarizing president dragging them down.

• In 2022, Zeldin was able to distance himself at least slightly from Trump because Joe Biden was president. Stefanik won’t have the same luxury.

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