Rep. Mike Lawler Won't Run For Governor In New York As Elise Stefanik's Decision Looms

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., is skipping a bid for politician and will alternatively tally for re-election aft President Donald Trump urged him to do conscionable that, giving Republicans a battle-tested incumbent successful 1 of nan astir competitory House races successful nan state — and clearing nan measurement for 1 of Lawler's House colleagues to tally for politician if she truthful chooses.

Lawler made his announcement Wednesday greeting successful an question and reply pinch The New York Times and an quality connected Fox News, noting that “keeping nan House mostly is critical” and that his spot has been “determinative of power of nan House” during caller elections.

“I’m proud to tally for re-election connected my grounds and triumph adjacent November and support nan House Republican majority,” he said.

In a post connected societal media, he added that he's skipping a gubernatorial bid contempt nan truth that "I fundamentally judge I americium champion positioned to return on" Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Republicans are protecting a constrictive House mostly successful nan 2026 midterms. Democrats would request to a nett summation of conscionable 3 seats to flip nan chamber, and Lawler represents 1 of nan 3 House Republican districts carried by then-Vice President Kamala Harris complete Trump successful nan 2024 election.

Lawler had been openly considering a gubernatorial bid for immoderate time, but Trump endorsed him for re-election successful May, earlier nan congressman made his announcement.

That endorsement came weeks aft reporting that Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a Trump state who had been tapped to go his United Nations ambassador earlier that information was pulled amid concerns astir nan slim GOP mostly successful nan House, was weighing a gubernatorial bid of her own.

Stefanik responded to Lawler’s determination by praising nan congressman's committedness to "protecting nan House Republican majority," adding she’d denote her plans aft nan autumn elections. Stefanik started a governmental action committee past period aimed astatine supporting "Republican candidates crossed New York successful 2025, and laying nan groundwork to prevention New York by firing Kathy Hochul successful 2026."

Hochul is moving for re-election and faces a superior situation from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. Addressing Lawler's determination not to tally connected societal media, Hochul criticized Lawler for having "caved to Trump" by supporting nan GOP's major taxation trim and spending bill, and posting a photograph of a container of canine bones, calling Lawler "Donald Trump's Good Boy."

Lawler’s determination helps House Republicans take sides their constrictive mostly adjacent year, arsenic they’ll beryllium capable to rally down nan incumbent successful a difficult territory that Harris narrowly won successful 2024. But Lawler is expected to look important title arsenic Democrats look to triumph backmost power of nan House.