Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) spoke out against New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) endorsement of New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Monday, calling the governor the “worst” in the U.S. as the congresswoman prepares to jump into the race for the state’s top executive role.
“Well, Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America, and it was only a matter of time before she bent the knee for this raging antisemite communist,” Stefanik said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Fox and Friends.” “The reality is Kathy Hochul owns Zohran Mamdani’s position to defund the police, to abolish our law enforcement, to abolish prisons, to abolish private health care insurance, to decriminalize sex workers. It is outrageous. ”
Hochul formally endorsed Mamdani in a New York Times op-ed to be the city’s next mayor on Sunday, roughly two months before the city’s mayoral elections.
“In our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support,” Hochul wrote. “New York needs leaders who will put aside differences, stand up and fight back against Mr. Trump.”
Stefanik’s criticism of Hochul comes as political observers expect her to soon formally challenge the governor ahead of next year’s election. Multiple sources confirmed to The Hill in June that Stefanik would enter the race, with one source saying: “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
Mamdani won the Democratic primary earlier this summer, running on a campaign promising higher taxes on New York’s wealthiest and creating city-ran grocery stores.
The endorsement came at a critical time for the Democratic mayor-elect, with few people on the left endorsing Mamdani because of his policy views leaning too far left. Mamdani is leading in the polls, with 46 percent of people seeing him as their next mayor; former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is second at 24 percent.
On Saturday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also endorsed Mamdani, calling on Democratic leaders to do the same and criticizing those who have delayed doing so, which he said allowed for President Trump to take advantage of the party’s division on the candidate.
Mamdani thanked the governor for the endorsement, saying on the social platform X, “I’m grateful for the Governor’s support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together.”
