Exclusive | Stefanik says her gubernatorial bid is existential battle to save Western Civilization from socialism

The 2026 New York gubernatorial election will be “existential battle” to save New York and all of Western civilization from socialism, Rep.Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told The Post’s Rich Calder during a nearly 20-minute interview this week, excerpted below, discussing her decision to challenge Gov.

Kathy Hochul.Q: Under the state Constitution, governors could suspend or even remove elected officials from office.  Is that something you’d consider doing with socialist NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani if elected governor?A: If elected governor, I will follow the New York State Constitution, which lays out a process.It is not based upon ideology.

The Constitution is very specific about that process..

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When we win, I will follow the Constitution and make an assessment.Q: How do you get around the fact that President Trump is not popular in parts of New York – especially in New York City? Hochul is already using your alliance with Trump to raise cash from panicked Democrats.A: Hochul’s campaign is helping us turn out low-propensity voters, which will be a key part of our electoral strategy.The reality is Kathy Hochul got about 3.1 million votes in New York and Donald Trump got nearly 3.6 million.  This race is going to be won on voter turnout, and it’s going to be won on a referendum on Kathy Hochul.

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.  Her name is on the ballot.My name will be on the ballot, and she is less popular than Donald Trump is in New York State.Q: If you beat Hochul, do you plan to reverse congestion pricing?A: Oh, absolutely.

That is going to be a major part of my platform.It is a commuter tax.

It is a tax on working New Yorkers, and it’s devastating the economy of New York City.Q: Why did you decide to enter the governor’s race – and why now?A: I am running to save New York.We have seen two decades of Democrats in the governor’s seat, and what has happened in New York? It’s become the most unaffordable state in the nation and one of the most unsafe.

On the af...