In a dramatic political reversal, Elise Stefanik, once heralded as a crown jewel of the MAGA movement, has simultaneously announced her retirement from Congress and withdrawn from the race to become New York's governor. The surprise double exit, confirmed on Friday, marks a stunning fall for a figure whose star had seemed in rapid ascent following Donald Trump's return to the White House.
A Promising Rise and a Swift Fall from Grace
Stefanik's fortunes appeared bright at the start of the second Trump term. Having been re-elected to her congressional seat in November 2024 by a commanding 25-point margin alongside the president, she was swiftly nominated for a prestigious post. In January 2025, Trump put her forward to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations, a reward largely seen as recognition for her aggressive questioning of Ivy League presidents during high-profile hearings on campus antisemitism.
Her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took place just one day after Trump's inauguration on 21 January, and bipartisan support seemed likely to smooth her path. However, the promise quickly unravelled. By early March, Trump abruptly withdrew her nomination, a move attributed to the suddenly precarious Republican majority in the House of Representatives. This occurred even after Stefanik had begun a farewell tour in her district to thank constituents.
Failed Pivot to State Politics and Mounting Humiliations
Seeking a new path, Stefanik launched a campaign for Governor of New York in early November, setting her sights on unseating Democrat Kathy Hochul, whom she labelled "the worst governor in America." Yet momentum stalled following a pivotal event in December: President Trump's surprisingly cordial White House meeting with socialist New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani.
This was deeply awkward for Stefanik, who had previously branded Mamdani a "jihadist." When pressed by the press, Trump dismissed her characterisation, stating, "No, I don't. She's out there campaigning, you know. You say things sometimes in a campaign," and called Mamdani "a very rational person."
Further controversy erupted when Stefanik, frustrated by Republican electoral losses, publicly criticised House Speaker Mike Johnson in a Wall Street Journal interview, calling him "a political novice" and blaming him for the party "underperforming for the first time in the Trump era."
The Final Blow: A Withheld Endorsement
The decisive blow came in the form of a primary challenge. When Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman entered the Republican gubernatorial race, both he and Stefanik vied for Trump's crucial endorsement. In a major setback for Stefanik, Trump pointedly declined to back her, telling reporters, "He's great and she's great. They're both great people."
Though she claimed confidence in her primary chances, Stefanik suspended her campaign less than two weeks later, also announcing she would not seek re-election to Congress. In a statement, she cited a desire to spend more time with her young son and family, stating, "It is not an effective use of our time" to continue the race.
While Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday calling Stefanik a "fantastic person and congresswoman" and claiming he was "with her all the way," his actions spoke louder. On Saturday, he formally endorsed Bruce Blakeman, praising him as "MAGA all the way." Blakeman, known for policies banning transgender athletes from county facilities and creating a controversial volunteer law enforcement unit, now becomes the presumptive frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
Stefanik's rapid exit concludes a once-promising chapter, highlighting the volatile nature of allegiance within the Trump-dominated Republican landscape, where today's rising star can swiftly become tomorrow's afterthought.
