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Republican National Committee senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision not to run for New York governor reflected both personal sacrifice and strategic calculation for the Republican Party.
Alvarez said she was initially shocked by Stefanik’s announcement, describing the upstate New York congresswoman as “such a leader within the Republican Party.” Alvarez made the comments Monday during an appearance on Newsmax’s National Report.
After further reflection, Alvarez said the decision ultimately made sense.
“I, like her, am a young mom,” Alvarez said, noting that both she and Stefanik have young children.
“Obviously we give a lot for our careers and for the roles that we play for the Republican Party to make sure to elevate our party, to elevate the president and our movement, but I have kids her kids’ age, and it’s hard to be away from home,” she said.
Alvarez said a statewide campaign places heavy demands on families and often requires missing “ballet recitals, school plays, the other play dates and functions.”
She also emphasized the political strategy behind Stefanik’s move, saying Republicans should avoid an expensive primary fight and focus on defeating Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“It’s difficult to have a bloody primary where you are going to spend millions, if not tens of millions of dollars, fighting another Republican when the focus needs to be on retiring Kathy Hochul,” Alvarez said.
She called Hochul “a disaster for New York” and accused her of ushering in “the far-left crazy.”
Alvarez pointed to recent developments in New York City politics as evidence of a broader leftward shift in the state, citing the rise of Zohran Mamdani.
She praised Stefanik’s history of putting party needs ahead of personal ambition.
“When she stepped down from the U.N. to serve in Congress because we were going to have tight majorities, whether it’s stepping aside for this governor’s race, she has always been a selfless leader of our Republican Party,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said Stefanik’s role as the No. 3 House Republican helped unify the conference and strengthen the party nationwide.
“So I am sad that she is not running,” Alvarez said, “but I understand the decision she made.”
The decision was also discussed Monday on Northern Light, where NCPR News Director David Sommerstein joined host Monica Sandreczki to analyze the implications for North Country politics.
Sandreczki noted that Stefanik had launched an aggressive campaign, attacking Hochul multiple times a day and frequently issuing press releases.
He cited national reporting indicating that both personal and political factors played a role.
Sommerstein referenced reporting from New York Magazine that Stefanik nearly skipped her most recent congressional run to spend more time with her four-year-old son.
He said Stefanik told the magazine, “my gut tells me this is not the right political time,” referring to a potential primary battle against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Sommerstein said a major factor may have been President Donald Trump’s decision not to endorse Stefanik.
He recalled an Oval Office event last week honoring the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team where Trump addressed the race while Stefanik stood nearby.
“She’s got a little bit of competition with a very good Republican, but she’s a great Republican, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said at the time.
The New York Times described the moment as “a punch to the gut,” while Fox News and The Wall Street Journal called it a turning point.
Less than a day after Stefanik withdrew, Trump formally endorsed Blakeman.
Sandreczki noted that Stefanik has branded herself as “Ultra-MAGA” but asked Sommerstein to explain her earlier political career.
He said Stefanik then pivoted toward a gubernatorial run but was unable to secure Trump’s endorsement or avoid a primary.
He noted that a recent Siena poll showed Stefanik trailing Hochul by 19 points.
Sommerstein said those factors ultimately led to her decision to exit the race.
