Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler announced his decision to run for reelection in the 2026 midterms in his crucial battleground House district, via a Wednesday morning interview on Fox News.
For months, Lawler has been hinting at a possible run against Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. His decision not to enter the race appears to put a damper on Democrats’ hopes of retaking his purple upstate New York district, which they lost in 2022.
“There’s no question Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America. New York leads the nation in out migration with the highest tax burden and worst business climate in the country. In 2026, she needs to be defeated. But after months of deliberating over this and really working through it, I’ve decided the right thing to do for me and my family and my district is to run for reelection,” Lawler said on Fox & Friends.
“I’m proud to run for reelection on my record and win next November and keep the House Republican majority,” Lawler added.
The congressman’s decision to seek a third term comes as a major relief to Republicans, who are defending their razor-thin majority in the House during the 2026 midterms.
Lawler is also only one of three House Republicans to represent seats that were won by failed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Lawler won his 2024 reelection bid over former Rep. Mondaire Jones by six percentage points, overperforming President Donald Trump who lost the district by less than one point.
Lawler’s reelection bid also gives his colleague Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik a clear path to becoming the Republican nominee to become the state’s next governor if she ultimately decides to jump into the race.
While Stefanik has not officially announced her plans, The Hill reported in late June that the congresswoman was preparing to enter the governor’s race, citing sources familiar with her thinking. Early polls have shown Stefanik with a sizable lead in a hypothetical primary matchup.
The only declared GOP gubernatorial candidate so far is Carl Hyde Jr., the town supervisor of Bethany, a town with a population of under 2,000. Another prospective Republican gubernatorial candidate is Bruce Blakeman, the County Executive of Nassau County.
When asked for a comment, Lawler’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to its Wednesday press release.
“Lawler, recognized as one of the most bipartisan and effective lawmakers in Congress, reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for New York families and addressing the nation’s critical issues,” the release, published after the congressman’s Fox News interview, stated in part.
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