Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images

Tuesday’s long-awaited elections resulted in great nationwide success for the Democratic Party, securing substantial wins from New Jersey to California to New York in a victorious wave that many viewed as a direct repudiation of President Donald Trump and his party’s policies. But as Republican representative Elise Stefanik officially unveiled her bid to become New York’s next governor, the once conspicuous Trump backer notably did so without making any direct mention of the president. Her introductory campaign video did, however, attempt to link Governor Kathy Hochul to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, describing him as a “defund-the-police, tax-hiking, antisemitic communist.”

The first part of the two-and-a-half-minute video looks like a traditional attack ad with a narrator declaring that “The Empire State has fallen” and labeling Democratic incumbent Hochul as “the worst governor in America.” The two-minute clip painted a grim picture of life in the state, featuring news reports on migrant crime and population loss. Then in addition to the narrator’s line about Mamdani, the video shows an old video clip of Mamdani giving a speech while wearing a face mask, then alleges Hochul wants to tax the rich.

Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America. Under her failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery bills. When New Yorkers were looking for leadership from our Governor, she bent… pic.twitter.com/HXyQlNIjEj

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 7, 2025

Then, in a sharp tonal shift, the ad begins to praise Stefanik and her record, highlighting her vote for Trump’s signature budget bill but without referring to him or the bill by its name. The ad also repeatedly mentions affordability — which was the central plank of Mamdani’s campaign.

“But from the ashes of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies, New York will rise, like we always do. The spirit of the Empire State cannot be broken. All we need is a courageous leader ready for the fight. Elise Stefanik will make New York affordable and safe,” the narrator said.

Hochul’s campaign was quick to respond, denouncing Stefanik as a “sellout” and “Donald Trump’s number one cheerleader in Congress” in a statement. It soon followed that up with a video of its own, featuring clips of Stefanik praising Trump as “the greatest president in the history of our country” and calling herself one of the president’s closest allies on Capitol Hill.

“Now Elise Stefanik is running for governor of New York to do what she’s always done: put Trump first,” the ad said.

Meet Sellout @EliseStefanik. pic.twitter.com/ry7tcw3aZB

— Team Hochul (@TeamHochul) November 7, 2025

Hochul is also facing a primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who has fallen out with the governor in recent months and is running to the more moderate Hochul’s left.

The governor’s dynamic with Mayor-elect Mamdani is expected to play a sizable role in the race as the support of the city’s voters will be key to her success in the election. In an interview with News12 at the annual SOMOS conference in Puerto Rico, Mamdani said that he hasn’t been asked for his endorsement in the race but that he has appreciated his working relationship with Hochul.

On Stefanik, the mayor-elect said the representative was “indistinguishable” from Trump. “We’re talking about someone who is in lockstep with an administration that is so desperate to throw 4 million Americans off their health care they would rather shut down the government. And I do not see any future in which New Yorkers would like to see that here in New York City while they’re trying to fight it there in Washington, D.C.,” Mamdani said.

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