New York Republicans Clash After Kathy Hochul Wins Governor's Race
Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman and Representative Elise Stefanik traded insults following a decisive gubernatorial loss to Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul won a second full term in the November 2026 midterm elections, defeating Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman by 19 points. The loss, combined with the flip of a congressional seat held by Mike Lawler and Democratic gains in southern Brooklyn, Hempstead, and Pelham Manor, triggered a public internal conflict within the New York GOP.
Blakeman sparked the infighting by accusing Representative Elise Stefanik of being a "selfish, do-nothing politician" who failed to support Republican candidates. He attributed the party's losses to Stefanik's decision to drop her own gubernatorial bid in December 2025. Stefanik responded by describing Blakeman's campaign as "low-energy" and asserting that the state party apparatus is "broken" and must be rebuilt from scratch.
Other party members joined the fray, with New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov characterizing Blakeman's campaign as a "failed grift" and accusing him of using inaccurate polling to attract donors. Incoming congressman Anthony Constantino called for the firing of state party chair Ed Cox, claiming the party is a "Con Job." Cox has urged party members to avoid a "circular firing squad" and instead regroup to develop a strategy for moving forward.
