Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was met with protesters at an event meant to honor a late county clerk.
Stefanik attempted to approach the podium in Plattsburgh, New York, twice to address the crowd but met opposition from protesters. Where protesters were present, they held signs reading “Stefanik suppresses District 21,” “Elise just go away,” and “Stefanik is a bully.”
Throughout the event, protesters shouted down Stefanik, with chants of “Shame,” “You’re a Nazi,” and “Go home!” Each time Stefanik attempted to speak at the podium, she was met with a roar of boos that prevented her from delivering her speech about late Clinton County Clerk John Zurlo.
After the event concluded, Stefanik spoke freely to reporters.
“Today’s event was about honoring John Zurlo,” Stefanik said. “It is a disgusting disgrace that this is what the far-left does rather than understanding that his family has been through a tremendous amount. It was about honoring his legacy.”
Protesters at the event called on Stefanik to host a town hall. However, in recent months, protesters have increasingly disrupted town halls by shouting down lawmakers, similar to what happened to fellow Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler. In response, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) told members that they should cease holding in-person town halls to stop encouraging such actors.
“Today #NY21 witnessed shameful conduct by radical Far Left Democrat agitators who disgracefully attempted to drown out and silence a non-political event in Plattsburgh to honor the lifelong service of John Zurlo in Clinton County as the building was named in his honor,” Stefanik wrote on X Monday.
“I was proud to deliver my remarks and privately give them to one of John’s sons along with the Congressional Record presented to the Zurlo family previously,” Stefanik said.
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Stefanik maintains a powerful reputation in New York, and she was recently named the Congresswoman of the Year Award by the New York State Young Republicans. The representative broke multiple fundraising records when she raised $4 million in the second quarter of the year, as she is currently considering a gubernatorial bid.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is running for reelection and has become the target of Stefanik’s criticisms even though Stefanik hasn’t begun campaigning against the incumbent governor.