Upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik snapped back Tuesday at House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim that the two have discussed her potentially running for Empire State governor, with Johnson saying he would rather see her stay in DC than go to Albany.
Stefanik (R-NY), who has emerged as the clear GOP front-runner to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026, said on X that there have been “no conversations” between herself and Johnson (R-La.) regarding any run for higher office.
“This is not true,” Stefanik wrote after Johnson held a news conference on Capitol Hill. “I have had no conversations with the Speaker regarding the Governor’s race. Looking forward to the conversation about [state and local tax deduction] with NY Members tomorrow. Stay tuned.”
The fierce response by Stefanik, 40, is a rare public suggestion of tension between her and the speaker after her nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations was abruptly pulled by President Trump last month.
At the time, Trump cited the narrow House GOP majority and said he “didn’t even want to take the chance” of losing Stefanik’s seat to a Democrat in a special election.
Johnson named Stefanik, who had given up the powerful chairmanship of the House Republican Conference after Trump tapped her for UN envoy, the chairwoman of House GOP leadership — a lower-ranking position focused on strategy, communications and executing Trump’s agenda.
The Post reported earlier this month that Stefanik is considering running for governor next year, when she will vie to become the first Republican in the executive mansion since George Pataki left office in 2006.
Other Republicans who have expressed interest in a gubernatorial bid include Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler, with whom Johnson said he had also spoken about the prospect.
“My preference is they all stay here with me,” the speaker said of the New York lawmakers.
Republicans currently hold a 220-213 edge in the House, meaning they can only lose three votes before legislation fails.
A poll published Monday showed that 44% of New York Republicans backed Stefanik in a hypothetical primary — compared to 7% for Lawler and 5% for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Another 44% of respondents said they were undecided 18 months out from the election, the survey conducted by Republican pollster Landon Wall with GrayHouse found.
One insider told The Post Stefanik is “the most popular Republican in the state and performs far better than Trump — if anyone could win, it would be her.”
Stefanik has represented New York’s 21st Congressional District since 2015.
