One of Election Night 2025's Biggest Losers: Elise Stefanik [View all]

Elise Stefanik must be looking at the 2026 New York Governor's race with fresh eyes today. In neighboring New Jersey, a Trump-centric GOP candidate just got blown out of the water by 13%; he did not even break 45% in the polls. The hallmarks were supposedly there for a closer race, as the two-term Democratic governor was at least partly unpopular, and the Democratic candidate sustained a major offensive from GOP money. But Mikie Sherril wiped the floor with the MAGA Ciatarrelli, winning by over 400,000 votes and winning bellwether Passaic County, which Trump had turned, 57%-42%.

The news was worse in Virginia. Spanberger won by over 15% (!), a larger percentage margin than Mike Braun's win in Indiana in 2024.

In Stefanik's own state, of course, Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayor's race handily, claiming an outright majority and energizing a new group of voters in New York City. He did so with Governor Hochul's active support and endorsement. That will be remembered.

Now Stefanik will have to face Hochul in a blue state governor's race in 2026.

She's already a loser. Trump dangled UN Ambassador for her after her relentless and craven MAGA devotion. He yanked the post and the cushy Upper East Side digs from her and handed it to one of the most incompetent men in the Trump orbit, Signal Chat moron Mike Waltz. This switcheroo was offensive even to liberals: for whatever you might say about Stefanik, she's a smart, accomplished, Ivy League educated attorney. Mike Waltz is a filled-out shirt and a haircut. In recompence for this public humiliation, Trump hooked her up with some money people for a gubernatorial run against the popular Hochul in 2026. How long is that money going to keep flowing after last night? With double digit margins against Trump-backed clowns in NJ and VA, who's going to throw good money after bad in NY?

Congrats Elise Stefanik: You earned it!