ALBANY – Rep. Elise Stefanik will declare her bid for governor after the November elections, and will have a clear path to the Republican nomination, State GOP Chair Ed Cox said Wednesday.

Cox, shortly after he was re-elected to lead Empire State Republicans for another two-year term, told reporters there wouldn’t be a GOP gubernatorial primary this year.

That would anoint Stefanik, the prominent North Country congresswoman, as the party’s nominee to take on incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026.

“She just doesn’t want to, in fact sort of get mixed up in the local elections,” Cox said in reference to when Stefanik will opt to officially announce her candidacy.

Rep. Elise Stefanik said Wednesday that she will declare her bid for governor after the November elections. Getty Ima

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