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FIRST ON FOX: Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s shock announcement on Friday night time that she is dropping out of the race for New York governor and leaving her seat in Congress was partly on account of lack of full help from President Trump, Fox Information Digital has discovered.
“The largest piece of this puzzle was Donald Trump and the truth that he handed thrice on endorsing her candidacy, together with within the Oval Workplace with the Miracle on Ice Workforce final week,” a GOP supply near the state of affairs informed Fox Information Digital. “I feel [that] performed the most important position on this determination,”
Stefanik’s authentic thought course of when she jumped into the race final month, in response to the supply, was that she would have a “clear shot” at present New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. However as soon as Trump ally and Nassau County Government Bruce Blakeman introduced his candidacy earlier this month, “it turned clear that was not going to occur.”
“Once you begin to add these items up, and also you see a contested main, you see an assumed ally within the president who passes on endorsing, and it doesn’t appear that you will have the wind to your again on this cycle, I feel [it] all performed into this,” the supply stated.
STEFANIK EXITS NY GOVERNOR RACE, WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO US HOUSE
U.S. President Donald Trump holds palms with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as Trump honors the 1980 U.S. Olympic males’s ice hockey crew within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Stefanik’s determination to additionally go away Congress was primarily based on a sense that it was time to “transfer on,” the supply stated.
“I’m actually humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming help from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all throughout the state for our marketing campaign to Save New York,” Stefanik posted on X Friday afternoon.
“Nevertheless, as we’ve seen in previous elections, whereas we might have overwhelmingly received this main, it’s not an efficient use of our time or your beneficiant assets to spend the primary half of subsequent 12 months in an pointless and protracted Republican main, particularly in a difficult state like New York.”
Stefanik has been a staunch ally of President Trump throughout her time in Congress, together with defending him throughout each of his impeachments. Trump nominated Stefanik to function U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a high-profile cabinet-level place, earlier than the nomination was pulled to guard the GOP’s razor-thin majority within the Home and amid worries Republicans may lose Stefanik’s seat to the Democrats in a particular election.
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Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., talks at a Home Committee on Schooling and the Workforce listening to. (AP/Mariam Zuhaib)
After Blakeman joined the race for governor, Trump opted to remain impartial, telling reporters on the White Home after Blakeman introduced his candidacy that “Elise is unbelievable and Bruce is.”
“Two unbelievable folks, and I all the time hate it when two superb buddies of mine are operating, and I hope there’s not lots of harm finished,” the president added.
Hochul’s re-election marketing campaign launched a press release on Friday shifting its consideration to Blakeman.
“Elise Stefanik has lastly acknowledged actuality: For those who run in opposition to Governor Kathy Hochul, you’re going to lose,” Hochul’s marketing campaign stated in a press launch Friday. “As Donald Trump raises prices on New Yorkers and targets this state relentlessly, Governor Hochul has reduce middle-class taxes, put a refund in New Yorkers’ pockets, and fought this administration and received when New York has come below assault.”
“The actual fact is, ‘100% MAGA’ Bruce Blakeman traveled all the best way to D.C. to have a good time Trump’s tariffs, he ran Lengthy Island’s security internet hospital into the bottom by appointing corrupt cronies to run it, and let violent crime in Nassau County spike to its highest degree in a decade. Governor Hochul’s message to him or whichever lackey Trump picks to run in opposition to her is straightforward: Deliver it on.”
The supply confirmed to Fox Information Digital that “a number of county leaders are reaching out to Congressman Mike Lawler” as a possible candidate, including it’s “untimely” to imagine the New York GOP is “coalescing round Blakeman.”
“Very fluid. Many of us are taking time to regroup.”
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Nassau County Government Bruce Blakeman celebrates reelection on the Nassau Republican GOP headquarters on election night time on the Coral Home in Baldwin, Nov. 4, 2025. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM by way of Getty Photographs)
The supply did say that Blakeman “generally is a robust candidate” and that the “Mamdani impact” is one thing Hochul will nonetheless should fight in a common election.
“I want Congresswoman Stefanik nothing however success as she pursues her priorities and continues her service to our nation,” Blakeman posted on X Friday. “At this pivotal second for New York, it’s important that Republicans and all New Yorkers come collectively in unity.”
Lawler responded to the information in a put up on X saying that Stefanik “has been a terrific Congresswoman” and “would have been a terrific governor.”
“As her good friend and colleague, I respect her determination and want her and her household all one of the best as she strikes ahead.”
The White Home directed Fox Information Digital to the social media reactions from the president and his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
In a Reality Social put up on Friday, Trump responded to Stefanik’s announcement, writing, “Elise Stefanik, a unbelievable individual and Congresswoman from New York State, has simply introduced she received’t be operating for Governor. Elise is an incredible expertise, no matter what she does. She can have GREAT success, and I’m along with her all the best way!”
Leavitt additionally posted reward of Stefanik on social media.
“Elise Stefanik has been an unbelievable advocate for the folks of her district in Upstate New York, and she’s going to all the time be a real good friend to President Trump,” Leavitt posted on X. “On a private word, Elise is my former boss. She is a superb chief, and a fair higher individual. We love you, @EliseStefanik!”
Fox Information Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report
