Elise Stefanik Withdraws From New York Governor Race After Trump Initially Stays Neutral — Trump Later Endorses Blakeman

Update: On Saturday, former President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for governor.

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is ending her campaign for New York governor, saying a potentially bitter GOP primary would hurt Republican prospects in an already challenging statewide contest. Stefanik said she wanted to avoid spending the first half of next year in "an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary," and cited both resource considerations and family priorities—including her 4-year-old son—as factors in her decision.

Why Stefanik Withdrew

Stefanik, a high-profile member of House Republican leadership and a prominent Trump ally, told supporters she believed she would have "overwhelmingly won" a primary. Still, she concluded a contentious intraparty fight could do lasting damage to the party's chances against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2002.

Talks With Trump And The Campaign Context

Two sources told CBS News that Stefanik spoke directly with Trump on Thursday about her decision. While Trump praised Stefanik after she withdrew — calling her "a fantastic person and Congresswoman from New York State" — he initially refrained from making an early endorsement, a move some Stefanik allies said would have cleared the field and avoided a fight. After Stefanik's exit, Trump publicly endorsed Bruce Blakeman on Saturday.

Stefanik had earlier signaled she would not seek re-election to Congress. She had been tapped by the Trump administration in November 2024 to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but that nomination was withdrawn in March amid concerns about the Republican majority in the House.

The Republican Field And Party Rules

The other major GOP candidate is Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, also a Trump ally. Under New York Republican Party rules, candidates must secure at least 25% of the weighted vote at the state party's February convention to qualify for the June primary ballot; otherwise, they must collect nominating petitions. Stefanik was widely believed to have strong early convention support—possibly well above the 25% threshold—thanks to local endorsements, but party officials warned a Blakeman challenge could still become a prolonged fight.

Electoral Prospects

Stefanik entered the race with a national profile and significant fundraising: reports indicate she had raised more than $12 million. Despite that advantage, early polling showed an uphill climb; a recent Siena College poll found Gov. Kathy Hochul holding a double-digit lead against each Republican at this stage.

Stefanik: "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."

After Stefanik suspended her campaign, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — a former Stefanik aide — praised her as "an incredible advocate" for her Upstate district and "a true friend" to Trump. Republican officials noted that Stefanik's decision reflected both political calculations and personal priorities.

With Stefanik out of the race and Trump’s endorsement of Blakeman, the New York GOP will pivot toward preparing for the convention in February and the general election matchup against Gov. Hochul, who remains the favorite in early surveys.