'Bring it on': MAGA ally Elise Stefanik's bid for NY governor met with mocking reception

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), one of GOP House leadership's most dedicated MAGA loyalists, announced her bid for governor of New York this week — but not a lot of Democrats and anti-Trump figures reacted to the news with particular fear.

"Kathy Hochul is the Worst Governor in America," Stefanik posted in her announcement on X. "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 the knee to the raging Defund the Police, Tax Hiking Communist causing catastrophe for New York families. I am running for Governor to make New York affordable and safe FOR ALL."

This announcement was met with derision from many of her opponents, including Hochul herself.

"Elise Stefanik is running to deliver New York for Donald Trump and raise your costs. Not on my watch," wrote Hochul. "My message to Trump’s 'top ally' — bring it on."

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha," wrote conservative anti-Trump lawyer George Conway.

"Prediction; she will lose and I will laugh," wrote congressional staffer Aaron Fritschner.

"She wants to lose by an even bigger margin than the MAGA minions did in NJ and VA," wrote Latino Victory partnership director Ade Ferro. "Good for her. She’s really going for that record!"

"She is a proud masochist," wrote media strategist and author Todd Domke. "Her announcement should include: 'I have just begun to humiliate myself!'"

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha https://t.co/HHcvo9GDal
— George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 (@gtconway3d) November 7, 2025