Elise Stefanik unveils a state PAC to boost GOP strength, fueling speculation about her 2026 New York governor run.

Save New York PAC Launches as Stefanik Weighs Candidacy

House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik announced the formation of a new state political action committee on Wednesday, intensifying speculation about her possible 2026 run for New York governor. The committee, named Save New York, is designed to support Republican candidates in local elections and strengthen the party’s infrastructure ahead of the next gubernatorial race.

Speaking to Republican voters in Staten Island earlier this week, Stefanik confirmed she is “strongly considering” a gubernatorial bid. Her remarks and the launch of the PAC underscore her growing prominence within New York’s GOP and her long-term political ambitions in the Empire State.

“Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America, and she is leading a failed Democrat Party,” Stefanik said in a statement. “After years of failed single-party Democrat rule in New York, it has never been more clear that we need strong, commonsense Republican leadership.”

The new PAC will focus its immediate efforts on backing GOP candidates in the upcoming November local elections. Stefanik said the initiative aims to “build the groundwork for 2026,” positioning Republican campaigns for broader statewide success.

Trump Ally and GOP Strategist

Over the past decade, Stefanik has steadily built a powerful political operation supported by New York donors and conservative voters. “I am proud of the strong support my political team has developed,” she said. “We’ve built our political apparatus into a fundraising and political juggernaut to deliver policies that benefit hardworking New York families.”

Stefanik has maintained close ties with President Donald Trump since his first term. She was appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s second term, but ultimately declined the nomination due to political considerations surrounding the House GOP’s slim majority.

Speaker Mike Johnson later named her Chair of House GOP Leadership after she vacated her role as GOP Conference Chair to serve in the Trump administration. In her leadership role, she has been an outspoken advocate on issues such as antisemitism in higher education and has led efforts to investigate anti-Israel protests at Ivy League institutions.

Stefanik is currently one of two Republican members of the House considering a run for governor in 2026. The other, Representative Mike Lawler of New York, has also floated the idea of launching a gubernatorial campaign. Lawler, who represents a district previously carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, has received Trump’s endorsement for re-election to the House.

With her new PAC, Stefanik is signaling that her political future is increasingly focused on statewide leadership. As New York’s political landscape shifts, her next moves will likely shape the GOP’s strategy in one of the nation’s most traditionally Democratic strongholds.