Elise Stefanik officially launched her bid for governor of New York early Friday morning, pitting her against incumbent Kathy Hochul in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican candidate to the position since 2002.

"I am running for Governor to bring a new generation of leadership to Albany to make New York affordable and safe for families all across our great state. Our campaign will unify Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to Fire Kathy Hochul once and for all to Save New York," Stefanik said in a statement released just after 6 a.m. that called Hochul the "Worst Governor in America" and accused New York's governor of creating "a crime crisis with failed bail reform and her support of Defund the Police candidates."

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