New York U.S. Representative Elise (Salty) Stefanik has dropped out of the race for the New York Governor’s Mansion, citing strategic political considerations and recent electoral challenges.
Not only has Rep. Elise Stefanik dropped out of the governor’s race, but she’s also stepping down from Congress.
The 41-year-old Stefanik, who has been in Congress since 2015, faced notable political setbacks over the past eleven months, which may influence her future. She has positioned herself as a rising Republican star within the MAGA movement, but recent events suggest challenges ahead.
In 2021, Stefanik publicly supported Donald J. Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and objected to Pennsylvania’s electoral votes, highlighting her alignment with certain MAGA political positions.
To date, several individuals have faced legal challenges or criminal charges related to their actions or involvement in broader efforts to challenge or interfere with the 2020 election results. Rep. Stefanik isn’t among those facing legal challenges for her participation in the 2020 presidential election denial.
In January 2025, as a reward for her efforts, President Trump nominated Stefanik to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations. Between March 11 and 15, several high-ranking Trump administration officials mistakenly shared sensitive Yemeni military strike plans in a Signal group chat that included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.
Wanting to sell stories, Jeff Goldberg published the details of the planned attacks and discussions about foreign allies. Shortly thereafter, President Trump pardoned Jeff Goldberg for his act of treason in publishing sensitive information and met with him at the White House.
Among the high-ranking Trump administration officials who mistakenly shared sensitive Yemen military strike plans on a Signal group chat was National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Because of the Signal-gate mishap, President Trump withdrew Rep. Stefanik from consideration for UN Ambassador and sent Mike Waltz to the UN instead. This decision reflects the political fallout from the incident and its impact on her career trajectory.
The President could have fired Waltz, but gave him a break because Mike Waltz had just quit his $ 178,000-per-year job in Congress to join the President’s administration.
That move was the beginning of Rep. Elise Stefanik turning salty. Usually, when Stefanik finds herself unemployed, she heads back to work at the hardware store her parents own.
Rep. Stefanik became even saltier when the President refused to endorse her gubernatorial candidacy in New York. President Trump would one day, after Rep. Stefanik dropped out of the governor’s race, endorse New York City councilman Bruce Butchman for governor.
