{"id":2523371,"date":"2025-12-19T17:23:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stefanik-suspends-gubernatorial-campaign-announces-retirement\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T17:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:24:12","slug":"stefanik-suspends-gubernatorial-campaign-announces-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stefanik-suspends-gubernatorial-campaign-announces-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefanik suspends gubernatorial campaign, announces retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstefanik-suspends-gubernatorial-campaign-announces-retirement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2523371&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Elise Stefanik, Republican Representative from New York, has unexpectedly suspended her campaign for governor and announced she will retire from Congress. Citing family commitments, she emphasized her role as a mother and the importance of focusing on her young son&#8217;s well-being. Stefanik stated that this decision was difficult but necessary. Political analysts suggest her withdrawal may be due to unfavorable polling, fear of a contentious primary, and the challenging political landscape in New york. With Stefanik out, Nassau county Executive Bruce Blakeman has emerged as the leading Republican candidate, receiving endorsements from party leaders. The announcement surprised many in washington, D.C., prompting speculation about possible pressure from allies, including former President Trump. Critics framed her exit as an admission of defeat against incumbent governor Kathy Hochul.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Stefanik suspends gubernatorial campaign and announces retirement from Congress<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2450641\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elise-stefanik\/\">Elise Stefanik<\/a> (R-NY) on Friday suspended her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a> gubernatorial campaign and announced her retirement from Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement sent shockwaves through <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, taking most by complete surprise. In a lengthy post on X, Stefanik cited family commitments, saying that she wanted to prioritize her duty as a mother.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4061247\/oversight-democrats-call-doj-failure-release-all-epstein-files-violation-federal-law\/\">Oversight Democrats call DOJ&#8217;s failure to release all Epstein files &#8216;violation of federal law&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3926059\/democrats-demand-aca-subsidies-vote-holidays-victory-lap\/\">Democrats demand Obamacare subsidies vote for holidays after centrist Republicans handed them early Christmas present<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3924868\/house-passes-gop-healthcare-bill-centrist-revolt\/\">House passes GOP healthcare bill amid centrist Obamacare revolt<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-senator-debbie-stabenow-announces-she-wont-seek-re-election-in-2024\/\" title=\"Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow Announces She Will Not Look For Re...Election In 2024\u00a0\">spending precious time<\/a> with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend&nbsp;my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family,&rdquo; she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And while many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom. I believe that being a parent is life&rsquo;s greatest gift and greatest responsibility. I have thought&nbsp;deeply about this and I know&nbsp;that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don&rsquo;t further focus on my young son&rsquo;s safety, growth, and happiness &ndash; particularly at his tender age,&rdquo; the congresswoman explained.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend&nbsp;my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family.<\/p>\n<p>I am truly&nbsp;humbled&nbsp;and grateful for the historic and&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EliseStefanik\/status\/2002121519342793163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Stefanik went more in-depth with the <em>Intelligencer<\/em>, instead citing her own political calculus.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My gut tells me this is not the right political time,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/article\/elise-stefanik-new-york-governor-interview.html\">told<\/a> the outlet. &ldquo;This is not the right sort of array of things lining up &mdash; which is so difficult in New York, which is just incredibly difficult in a picture-perfect year &mdash; let alone with a primary and everything else.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With the Trump-endorsed Stefanik out of the race, the top Republican contender is now Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox quickly endorsed Blakeman, urging the state&rsquo;s other Republicans to follow his lead.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Elise Stefanik will remain a leader in our party and a powerful voice for our principles. We respect her decision and thank her for her efforts,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik&rsquo;s detractors were quick to gleefully welcome the news, with Kathy Hochul&rsquo;s reelection campaign spokesman Ryan Radulovacki painting it as an admission of hopelessness.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Elise Stefanik has finally acknowledged reality: If you run against Governor Kathy Hochul, you are going to lose,&rdquo; he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;As Donald Trump raises costs on New Yorkers and targets this state relentlessly, Governor Hochul has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >cut middle-class taxes<\/a>, put money back in New Yorkers&rsquo; pockets, and fought this administration and won when New York has come under attack.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stacey-abrams-cheers-7-7-million-registered-voters-ahead-of-january-run-off-republicans-left-looking-inept-and-stupid\/\" title=\"Stacey Abrams Cheers 7.7 Million Registered Voters Ahead of January Run...Off \u2014 REPUBLICANS LEFT LOOKING INEPT AND STUPID\">quickly moved<\/a> on to attack &ldquo;100% MAGA&rdquo; Blakeman, attempting to closely link him to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik&rsquo;s sudden announcement wasn&rsquo;t preceded by any hints, leading to intense speculation. New York strategist Lawrence Levy speculated that she may have been asked to drop out by Trump himself.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Aside from some scandal about to explode, it&rsquo;s hard to imagine her dropping out without a hard nudge from President Trump,&rdquo; he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Republican strategist Susan Del Percio believes Stefanik&rsquo;s decision came after troubling polling numbers came out, and fear over the prospect of a damaging primary.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would say it comes down to two things,&rdquo; she said of Stefanik&rsquo;s decision. &ldquo;One is there was some polling that came out, public polling that came out this week. And basically, while she was very much ahead, Stefanik was leading Bruce Blakeman, that was fine, but Hochul was doing better than expected. So my guess is, after also some internal numbers, it probably didn&rsquo;t look like she could win. I&rsquo;m speculating because, I always say a campaign is like marriage: you never know what&rsquo;s going on unless you&rsquo;re in it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4074633\/cynthia-lummis-senator-retire-2026\/\"><strong>CYNTHIA LUMMIS BECOMES 11TH SENATOR TO WALK AWAY FROM UPPER CHAMBER IN 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;But the other thing is I think she just didn&rsquo;t want to have a primary. &hellip; She thought she&rsquo;d have a clear field. To go through a bruising primary. It doesn&rsquo;t make sense for her,&rdquo; Del Percio added. &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s what would have to happen to win the primary: they would have to out-Trump each other. Once they do that, then they no longer are necessarily viable as a statewide candidate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She also speculated that Stefanik could change course about retiring from Congress, however, noting how she changed her position on running for governor in the past.<\/p>\n<p><em>Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stefanik halts governor bid, retires from Congress citing family<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2523372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/stefanik.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[67627,5894,7620,3973,53182],"class_list":["post-2523371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gubernatorial-campaign","tag-politics","tag-retirement","tag-stefanik","tag-suspension-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/stefanik.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2523371"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2523375,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523371\/revisions\/2523375"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2523372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2523371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2523371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2523371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}