Mike Lawler backs rival Elise Stefanik’s gubernatorial campaign
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who had previously considered himself the best Republican candidate to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 New York gubernatorial race, has endorsed Rep. Elise StefanikS campaign for governor. Lawler appeared with Stefanik at a recent event in Rockland County to publicly support his former rival. He praised Stefanik’s toughness and criticized Hochul,asserting that Hochul’s daily attacks on Stefanik signal fear of losing to her in the upcoming election.
Lawler had dropped out of the governor’s race in July after former President donald Trump encouraged him to seek reelection to his House seat. Until recently, Lawler refrained from endorsing any candidate, despite believing himself best positioned to defeat Hochul. With his endorsement, Stefanik aims to solidify support within the Republican Party and surpass Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as the leading GOP contender.
stefanik emphasized the need to address issues such as affordability, crime, housing, and energy crises attributed to Hochul’s administration and expressed confidence that her coalition will succeed in the fight to “Save New York.” Lawler described Stefanik as the necessary fighter to restore common sense and accountability in Albany.
Stefanik is highly likely to secure the GOP nomination with backing from most of New York’s Republican leaders. Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul has characterized Stefanik and Lawler as more right-wing than Trump, highlighting the increasingly extreme nature of state politics. The new York State Democratic Party criticized lawler’s endorsement, labeling Stefanik as too extreme and tied to Trump’s unpopular agenda for a statewide race.
Stefanik rival Lawler backs congresswoman’s gubernatorial campaign
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who once believed he would be the “best positioned” candidate to beat Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) in 2026, has endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) gubernatorial campaign.
Lawler appeared with Stefanik at a Rockland County event on Monday to endorse his onetime rival.
“Elise Stefanik doesn’t take s*** from anybody,” Lawler said at the event. “There’s a reason why Kathy Hochul spends every day attacking Elise Stefanik, because she knows she’s about to get her ass kicked next November.”
Lawler ended his gubernatorial campaign in July after President Donald Trump urged him to run for reelection to his House seat. Since then, he had refused to back anyone and noted he still believed he was the best Republican to take on Hochul.
With Lawler’s endorsement, Stefanik hopes to overcome Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as the final Republican hurdle to the nomination.
“I am deeply grateful for the strong outpouring of support from Republicans across New York who believe we deserve better than the affordability, crime, housing, and energy crises families are suffering from under Kathy Hochul’s Far Left Democrat rule,” Stefanik said in a statement. “With the steadfast support of our growing coalition, we will win this righteous fight to Save New York and fire Kathy Hochul.”
Lawler added in a statement that he believed Stefanik to be “the fighter we need to turn this around.”
“She will restore the common sense and accountability that’s been missing from Albany for decades. I’m proud to endorse Elise for Governor because she’s the leader who will get New York back on the right track,” he said.
Stefanik is likely to get the GOP nomination as she has the support of most of the state’s GOP leaders.
Hochul said at an unrelated event that the two are more right-wing than Trump.
“They’re willing to be more extreme than him. It’s a new chapter in politics in our state, that’s for sure,” Hochul told reporters.
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The New York State Democratic Party piled on and used Lawler against Stefanik in its statement while calling him a “lapdog.”
“Mike Lawler said it himself: Elise Stefanik is too extreme and tied to Donald Trump’s unpopular agenda to win a statewide race in New York,” New York State Democratic Party spokesman Addison Dick said.
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