Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik is racking up a slate of endorsements from conservative grassroots organizations in her bid to become the Empire State’s next governor.
Eight conservative advocacy groups in upstate New York endorsed Stefanik’s gubernatorial campaign Tuesday, the Daily Caller News Foundation can exclusively report. The representative is vying for the Republican nomination against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who entered the primary despite state GOP leaders coalescing around the congresswoman’s campaign. Both candidates are seeking to unseat Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026.
The groups endorsing Stefanik include: Moms for Liberty, Wayne County; Fight For Your Family, Monroe County; Western New York Freedom Seekers and Chautauqua County Republican Women; We the People, Cattaraugus County; Upstate Conservative Coalition; Constitutional Coalition of New York State, Erie County; and CAWTILE, an organization opposed to wind turbines in Lake Erie.
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association is also getting behind Stefanik’s gubernatorial run.
The conservative grassroots endorsements add to Stefanik’s argument that Blakeman has no clear path to the GOP nomination. Stefanik has the endorsement of more than 75% of Republican county chairs in New York, making her the presumptive nominee of the state Republican party.
Under New York’s rules, Blakeman could be required to petition his way onto the ballot due to Stefanik’s overwhelming support among county chairs.
“Conservatives in Upstate are sick and tired of downstate RINOs trying to come up here and tell us how to think and feel, all while they help destroy our lives,” Dave Buchyn, political director and spokesperson for the Upstate Conservative Coalition,” said in a statement referring to Blakeman’s campaign. “This guy has no path to victory, no name ID, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with Elise to flip this state.”
“As a mom and advocate for parental rights and education reform, I appreciate Elise Stefanik’s voice in addressing the failures in NYS education,” Jennifer Williams, Founding Chair of Moms for Liberty Wayne County, NY, said in a statement obtained by the DCNF. “Her strong stance to improve accountability, moral clarity, choice, and parental rights is exactly what NYS needs to serve our kids and future generations.”
Stefanik has also emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary, according to recent polling. A Siena survey released Tuesday found that 48% of registered Republicans support Stefanik and 17% back Blakeman.
However, both candidates significantly trailed Hochul, who is seeking a second term despite deep unpopularity. In head-to-head matchups, Hochul leads Stefanik 49% to 30% and Blakeman 50% to 25%, according to the survey.
The GOP candidates will also have to overcome a massive voter deficit in the Empire State where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2 to 1 margin.
Stefanik and Blakeman are competing for the president’s support. Trump, who has effusively praised both Republicans, has declined to say which candidate he likes better.
“Everybody knows Elise. She’s doing phenomenally well … and she’s running for a little position called governor of New York,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Friday with Stefanik standing behind him among a group of GOP lawmakers. “She’s got a hell of a shot at it. That’s all I can see. I see polls that look very good and we could use you in New York.”
“She’s got a little competition with a very good Republican, but she’s a great Republican,” Trump continued.
Blakeman has argued his decisive reelection victory in his home base of Long Island in November shows he would be competitive in a general election against Hochul.
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