Elise Stefanik can win in New York if the GOP suits up and seizes on Democrats divisions

Zohran Mamdani, a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won more than 50% of the vote Tuesday in the highest-turnout mayoral race in over half a century.This was no sleepy off-year fluke, but a record-breaking mobilization — and voters chose Democratic Socialism over everything else on the menu.Here’s the kicker: Mamdani didn’t beat a Republican.He beat his own party — crushing the Democratic establishment in a civil war over capitalism, antisemitism and what’s left of the city’s liberal center.In the process, Mamdani redefined the Democratic Party as openly socialist, pro-criminal and decidedly anti-Israel, leaving the once-powerful centrist wing in tatters.Now, every mainstream Democrat in New York should be sweating — and every Republican should be suiting up.This is how the GOP has always won in this state: By seizing the moment when Democrats self-destruct and voters desperately seek sanity.Rudy Giuliani ran on crime; George Pataki on Cuomo fatigue; Mike Bloomberg after 9/11 chaos.Not master plans — opportunities seized.In 2025, with Democrats at war over Israel, socialism and whether the party still had room for moderates, Republicans weren’t positioned to exploit their chance.Many rank-and-file voters stood by Curtis Sliwa, but President Donald Trump and much of the business community never believed the nominee could win, and stopping the socialist trumped party loyalty.Trump gave Republicans permission to abandon their own party — and many did.GOP votes for mayor hit their lowest since 1977.In doing so, Andrew Cuomo became the de facto Republican candidate.And viewed that way, Tuesday was a partial success: The right reframed NYC politics around one powerful idea — stopping socialism.The coalition that emerged to block the far left forms the foundation of a comeback.And good news: Republicans get a second shot in 12 months.Gov.

Kathy Hochul is historically weak — tolerated, not loved, by her own party.She governs by d...