Rep. Elise Stefanik plans to declare a bid for New York governor after the November elections, according to state GOP Chair Ed Cox. Cox, who was re-elected to lead the Empire State Republican Party for another two-year term, said there would be no GOP gubernatorial primary this year, effectively clearing Stefanik’s path to the nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026. The move comes after Republican leadership signaled unity and after Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler bowed out of consideration in July.
Cox told reporters there would not be a gubernatorial primary this year, after he was re-elected to lead Empire State Republicans for another two-year term. He said, "She just doesn’t want to, in fact sort of get mixed up in the local elections," referencing when Stefanik will officially announce. "Let those happen, let the candidates carry that, and after that she will declare." "We’re not going to have a primary this year," he added. Stefanik said Wednesday that she will declare her bid for governor after the November elections. "After the November elections, Brian," Stefanik quickly replied when asked when she would declare. "You have to make sure that Republicans continue to do well," she said. "We’ve made those investments in each of the 62 counties. We have key races," Stefanik continued, "and after this November I look forward to making my announcement. And we’re getting an outpouring of support all across the state."
Stefanik has a clear path to the Republican nomination after Lawler’s July departure left the field wide open. The North Country congresswoman, known for her national profile and fundraising prowess, is considered a leading potential candidate to face Hochul in 2026 if she secures the nomination. With Lawler out, there is less intra-party competition to complicate her pathway.
The leadership question at the state party reflects a broader strategy among New York Republicans to present a unified candidate in 2026, while focusing on November’s local races in the short term. Cox’s re-election as party chair signals continuity as the party positions itself for a late-year reset and a planned statewide push once voters weigh in on November’s outcomes.
As events unfold through the fall, observers will monitor Stefanik’s public statements for signals about the timing of her official entry, along with any shifts in support across the state.