Stefanik bailing because she is 'exhausted' from defending Trump: GOP strategist

Rep. Elise Stefanik’s surprise decision to not only drop her bid to run for governor of New York but also give up her seat in the House and return to private life was an admission that she no longer wants to spend her days talking about Donald Trump.

The Republican lawmaker who started out as a moderate only to go full MAGA, which allowed her to rise to a GOP leadership position an extraordinary speed, said in a statement, “While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress. I did not come to this decision lightly for our family.”

Appearing on MS NOW on Saturday morning, longtime GOP strategist Susan Del Percio claimed there were likely two factors at play in the surprise change of heart.

“We saw Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announce that she wasn't running for governor,” she began. “Now, two things to keep in mind: One is she didn't want a prolonged primary, which she would have to worry about out-Trumping the other candidate or candidates if it happens.”

“But the other part was that she decided not to seek reelection,” she added. “And that's, I think, in part because she didn't want two years more of having to defend Donald Trump in her district. She's probably looking to rebuild herself, maybe looking at a 2028 Senate [bid]. Who knows? But people are tired. Republicans are tired of defending Donald Trump. So that's why we're also seeing a lot of Republicans, not just because they'll be in the minority, but because they're exhausted and they don't want to have to do this for another two years or three years.”

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