Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) issued a scathing rebuke Monday of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s press conference on redistricting, accusing Hochul of working to suppress voters through unconstitutional gerrymandering and calling her “the Worst Governor in America.”
The upstate New York congresswoman slammed Hochul’s remarks as a desperate political stunt, particularly after the governor joined out-of-state Democrats from Texas in a press conference where she vowed to “fight fire with fire” in response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states.
“Kathy Hochul’s pathetic press conference today shows she continues to put New Yorkers LAST,” Stefanik said in a statement. “She truly earns the title of the Worst Governor in America.”
Kathy Hochul’s pathetic press conference today shows she continues to put New Yorkers LAST and she truly earns the title of the Worst Governor in America.
In her own words, Kathy Hochul is hell bent on angrily spiting the New York State Constitution, the will of New York…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) August 4, 2025
Stefanik referenced Hochul’s previous failed attempts to gerrymander congressional maps, which were struck down by the courts in 2022 and again in 2023 for violating New York’s redistricting process.
“She lost not once, but TWICE in her effort to illegally draw gerrymandered lines in New York to rig our Congressional elections and suppress the will of the voters,” Stefanik wrote. “We will defeat Kathy Hochul’s desperate attempt to attack our election integrity for the third time, just like we will defeat her next year and save New York once and for all.”
In a post on X, Stefanik further condemned Hochul for partnering with what she called “unlawful out-of-state radical Democrats,” referring to Texas legislators who fled their state to block a Republican redistricting vote backed by President Donald Trump.
Brave public servants from Texas are taking a stand against the Republican power grab unfolding in their state.
They’re fighting back on behalf of millions of Americans being crushed by tariffs, denied food and healthcare, and silenced by the GOP.
Proud to have their backs. pic.twitter.com/YtVYhAZyEP
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) August 4, 2025
Hochul’s press conference came as she hosted Texas Democratic lawmakers in New York and defended their decision to flee their state to deny quorum for a GOP-backed redistricting vote. Hochul accused Republicans of executing a “legal insurrection” by using legislative processes to reshape districts in their favor.
“If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they’re leaving us no choice. We must do the same,” Hochul said Monday, suggesting New York could soon redraw its own congressional maps despite previous legal defeats.
New York @GovKathyHochul: “If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage then they’re leaving us no choice. We must do the same…I’m exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible.” pic.twitter.com/wZe8odFGVe
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 4, 2025
She said legislative leaders in Albany support her push, adding, “This is a war. We are at war. And that’s why the gloves are off and I say, bring it on.”
New York Democrats are reportedly eyeing a new round of map changes to help them regain House seats lost in 2022.
The escalating partisan feud now spans New York, Texas, and California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted Texas Democrats and echoed Hochul’s warnings about a “Trump-mandated power grab.”
At the heart of the fight is Trump’s plan to secure five additional Republican House seats in Texas, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Democrats in states like New York and Illinois are exploring ways to redraw maps to reclaim lost ground, even if it means reversing court-ordered limits.
Stefanik, who helped lead GOP efforts to fight Hochul’s previous gerrymander, said the public is watching and will respond.
“New Yorkers rightfully won that fight and have fair constitutional lines as a result,” she said. “We’re not going to let Hochul and her out-of-state enablers destroy our democracy from within.”
Stefanik has signaled her intention to run against Hochul in the 2026 New York gubernatorial election, raising substantial funds and emerging as the GOP’s clear front-runner. While Stefanik has stated she will make a final decision after the November 2025 elections, she is already leading in early GOP polling, with stronger name recognition and fundraising strength.
Hochul, for her part, has confirmed she will seek reelection in 2026. New York’s constitution imposes no term limits on governors, allowing incumbents to serve multiple consecutive terms. She made her intentions clear in July 2024 and is preparing for a high-stakes rematch with Republicans in a state still politically shaken by redistricting battles and economic concerns.
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Over the weekend, Hochul blasted her potential opponent in an interview on ABC 7’s Up Close with Bill Ritter, calling Stefanik “pathetic” and warning of the consequences if Donald Trump’s preferred candidate wins the governor’s race.
“If a Republican gets elected as governor against me, think about the power that Donald Trump will have over everything in the state, including the city,” Hochul said. “That’s what should give people great pause.”