RNC Chair Michael Whatley joins 'The Hill on NewsNation'
A reminder this week that the 2026 jockeying is well underway. For example, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) announced Tuesday that he's running for Mitch McConnell's soon-to-be open Senate seat. While that's a definitive move, there are also questions about a different Republican House member: could Elise Stefanik try to challenge New York Governor Kathy Hochul? 'She would be an absolutely fantastic candidate,' Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, told me. I asked Whatley if she'd be the best chance for Republicans to flip the Governor's Mansion, but he wasn't willing to go there yet. 'I think we'll wait and see who's going to get in that race.' This is indeed a big 'wait-and-see' for Republicans. It involves a rising star within the party potentially trying to close a six-point gap from the last gubernatorial race.
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