Latest news with #SaveNewYorkPAC
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stefanik keeps rumors alive on run for governor, opens up state-level PAC to boost downballot candiates
Jun. 4—Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik has renewed her focus on state-level elections in New York, launching a new political action committee meant to boost GOP candidates in local races. On Wednesday, Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, announced she'd launched "Save New York PAC," echoing a refrain she's inserted into many of her public statements about state politics in recent weeks. "After years of failed single-party Democrat rule in New York, is has never been more clear that we need strong, commonsense Republican candidates and campaigns in local elections this November to build the groundwork for 2026," she said. "I am proud of the strong support my political team has developed over the past decade sue to the generous support from New York voters and donors who have build our political apparatus into a fundraising and political juggernaut to deliver policies that benefit New Yorkers." Stefanik has been involved in local state politics for years — as she became a more influential member of the national Republican party, she quietly built ranks of local volunteers who worked for her campaign and others, and the Congresswoman has been an influential booster for downballot Republicans across the state. She also spent years working to boost the presence of women within the Republican party with her Elevate-PAC that endorsed conservative female candidates in House races across New York and the nation. This latest step formalizes some of that state-level ground game, and comes at a time when the north country Congresswoman is openly floating a potential run for governor next year. Stefanik has tried to find a new lane forward after losing out on the U.N. Ambassadorship position she was nominated for in early April — she's a member of House GOP leadership in a position only rarely used, and despite promises from the Speaker she still hasn't been restored to the House Intelligence Select Committee. She's floated a run for Governor in the last few weeks, appearing more prominently in New York Republican circles and hammering sitting Governor Kathleen C. Hochul over issue after issue. But an internal poll circulated among Republicans, first reported by the Time's Union's Dan Clark, shows that while Republicans have momentum to win in New York, it's a moderate candidate that's most likely to flip the state's highest elected office. That polling found that New York's electorate has shifted to be less favorable to Democrats and progressive policies over the last few election cycle. The polling also found that contentious issues at the national level, like DOGE and the threat of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare have driven some voters away from the GOP but not directly to the Democrats. The result is that a strong contingent of non-aligned moderate voters will be up for grabs in 2026 — and the polling found that about 26% of voters in New York define themselves as moderates, the largest group out of five ranging from "MAGA" to "progressive." The group who conducted the polling, Deep Root Analytics, contend that indicates Hudson Valley Representative Mike R. Lawler, R-Pearl River, is best suited to be the GOP nominee in the gubernatorial race in 2026. "A core tenant of Mike Lawler's success has been his ability to appeal to moderates and independents," their memo reads. The memo continued, noting that Lawler has focused regularly on local and bipartisan issues like the state and local tax deduction, Medicare and Medicaid. They said this track record gives "credence to a viewpoint that suggests Lawler is better positioned to compete in a statewide gubernatorial general election than any other Republican in New York." Unsaid in that message is that Stefanik is not as well positioned — the Congresswoman has made her brand as a MAGA firebrand in recent years, catapulting herself from a moderate backbencher representing a quasi-swing district to a GOP hardliner in a position of power, representing a solidly Republican district. Stefanik has cemented herself as an ally of President Donald J. Trump on the national stage, and in local issues has not significantly deviated from the Presidents positions. That's something the state Democratic party has started to seize on, and it's a criticism she's faced before. Back in 2021, when the Biden administration was working to pass a COVID relief bill that included millions in infrastructure investment, the final agreement cut out a bill to direct money to the Seaway International Bridge in Massena, which came after the GOP dubbed the bridge money a pork project for Sen. Charles E. Schumer and Stefanik declined to push for it among her colleagues. Now, state Democrats are hammering her over her silence on another local issue — the Trump administration's decision to cut billions in clean energy grants for private companies, including a $22 million investment for the Lowville Kraft-Heinz plant. That money would have decarbonized the plant, combining with Kraft-Heinz money to buy new, electric equipment and cut CO2 emissions by 99% in total. Senator Schumer called the cuts a travesty and demanded they be reversed — and he called on Congresswoman Stefanik to join him in those calls. But despite outreach from multiple news organizations including the Watertown Daily Times, Stefanik has not said a word about the loss of funding for a critical manufacturer in her district. "Elise Stefanik is putting her loyalty to Trump ahead of her constituents as the Trump administration cuts critical funding for one of the largest employers in her district," said Addison Dick, a spokesperson for the NY Democratic Party. "Stefanik has consistently backed Trump's reckless DOGE cuts and is refusing to stand up for New Yorkers — pulling $22 million from the largest employer in Lewis County is an affront to the north country that will hurt a critical factory for upstate dairy farmers. New Yorkers deserve a leader who will fight for them instead of bending the knee to Trump at every turn, and Stefanik has shown no interest in doing her job." The congresswoman's office did not respond to a request for comment in response to the Dem's criticism — but in an interview with conservative talk radio hose Sid Rosenberg on Tuesday, the Congresswoman reiterated her call to "save New York," and said that the key to winning the Governor's office isn't being moderate, it's being MAGA. "I have the strongest relationship with President Trump in the delegation," she told Rosenberg. "He was able to surge New York turnout, we are going to need those Trump voters, and it needs to be a candidate who excites those voters."
New York Post
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Rep. Elise Stefanik launches PAC to juice GOP fundraising in New York after hinting at gubernatorial run
WASHINGTON — Upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) launched a political action committee (PAC) on Wednesday to help juice donations for Republican candidates in statewide and local races, adding another source of fundraising to draw from should she jump into the 2026 governor's race. The Save New York PAC will help fund 'strong, commonsense Republican leadership' in 'local elections this November to build the groundwork for 2026,' Stefanik said in a statement, before ripping Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul as 'the worst governor in America.' 'I am proud of the strong support my political team has developed over the past decade due to the generous support from New York voters and donors who have built our political apparatus into a fundraising and political juggernaut to deliver policies that benefit hardworking New York families,' she added. Advertisement 4 The Save New York PAC will help fund 'strong, commonsense Republican leadership' in 'local elections this November to build the groundwork for 2026,' Stefanik said in a statement. Save New York The PAC will boost GOP candidates who are focused on cutting taxes, supporting school choice, ending so-called 'sanctuary' policies and opposing state bail reform laws as well as 'Defund the Police insanity,' according to its website. Stefanik, 43, has already pulled ahead of potential Republican gubernatorial opponents while narrowing the polling gap between herself and Hochul to a dead heat, according to recent surveys, but has yet to formally enter the race. Advertisement Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler and Nassau County Bruce Blakeman are rumored to also be in the running but haven't announced. 4 The PAC will boost GOP candidates who are focused on cutting taxes, supporting school choice, ending so-called 'sanctuary' policies and opposing state bail reform laws as well as 'Defund the Police insanity,' according to its website. Save New York President Trump withdrew Stefanik's nomination to be US ambassador to the UN in March, keeping her in the House in order to help the razor-thin Republican majority pass a multitrillion-dollar tax, border, defense and energy bill this year. Around the same time, sources spilled that the New York Republican — whose federal campaign funds top $10 million and could be easily transferred for a statewide race — was being 'approached by major donors, New York GOP leadership and Trumpworld to run for governor.' Advertisement Stefanik told The Post in April that she was 'in the strongest position to defeat' Hochul, which would make her the first Republican leader of New York state since former Gov. George Pataki left office in 2006. 4 Stefanik told The Post in April that she was 'in the strongest position to defeat' Hochul, which would make her the first Republican leader of New York state since former Gov. George Pataki left office in 2006. The Democratic governor shot back in a CNN interview later: 'I look forward to that fight. No matter who it is. It's not settled yet, but I say bring it on.' On Tuesday, Stefanik delivered a speech to a group of Staten Island Republicans saying that New Yorkers were about ready to 'fire' Hochul for failed immigration policies, along with a punishing $9 per day congestion toll on commuters into Manhattan. Advertisement 'We're seeing an abysmal economic outlook,' Stefanik said at the annual Lincoln Dinner. 'We have the highest tax state in the nation under single-party Democrat rule led by Kathy Hochul. We have sky-high regulations that are running small businesses out of our state.' 4 President Trump withdrew Stefanik's nomination to be US ambassador to the UN in March, keeping her in the House in order to help the razor-thin Republican majority pass a multitrillion-dollar tax, border, defense and energy bill this year. AP Through May and June, Stefanik has been attending dinners and speaking engagements in the Capital District, Mohawk Valley, Erie and Suffolk counties, and New York City. That follows several election cycles where the North Country candidate had helped secure critical wins that allowed Republicans to retake the US House of Representatives — and ran well in front of even Trump in her own district.
