Rep. Elise Stefanik, who just won a fifth term in Congress, attends a rally for gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin on November 5, 2022.
In the fight for New York’s 21st Congressional District seat, incumbent Elise Stefanik took the win over Democratic challenger Matt Castelli with an 18.51 percent lead.
According to The New York State Board of Elections, Stefanik had 58.53 percent of the votes, compared to Castelli’s 40.02 percent.
In the sprawling 15-county district, Stefanik dominated in Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Montgomery, Otsego, Saint Lawrence, Schoharie and Otsego counties, while the race was much closer in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Rensselaer and Warren counties.
“To the families and the veterans and farmers and small business and upstate New York patriots we delivered; you delivered another landslide victory,” Stefanik said during her victory speech, “You are the red wave, and I am so grateful, and upstate New York, we will stand strong against the vicious smears and downstate democrats.”
Stefanik has represented the 21st Congressional District since Jan. 3, 2015, when she made history as the youngest woman to be elected to Congress.
In 2021, Stefanik was voted the House Republican conference chair by her colleagues, taking the place of Liz Cheney. This week, Stefanik was re-elected for a second term as conference chair, making her one of the top-ranking Republicans in the House.
In 2021 Stefanik tweeted a letter written to her colleagues about why she was running for Republican conference chair. In the letter, she says, “Today, I humbly ask to earn your vote for House Republican Conference Chair to unify our message as a team and win the majority in 2022.”
It appears that promise may become a reality. Republicans are waiting on one more seat to take over the majority depending on future race counts, according to The New York Times, not placing the party very far ahead. The red wave that GOP leaders had anticipated seems only to have made a small splash nationwide, despite a strong showing in New York last Tuesday.
Stefanik has a long-time allegiance to former President Donald Trump and continues to express her support for him as other New York Republicans have severed ties or are simply remaining silent.
“I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024,” Stefanik told The New York Times. “It is time for Republicans to unite around the most popular Republican in America who has a proven track record of conservative governance.”
During her victory speech, Stefanik lays out a summary of her first-100-days agenda, some of which include working towards a strong economy, reigning in “reckless spending,” addressing inflation, and opening more domestic energy sources. Stefanik’s plan for addressing crime and public safety concerns is by supporting law enforcement and police officers, securing the borders, and advocating for Second Amendment Rights.
“Our country is in crisis under single-party, far-left Democrat rule in both Washington and Albany, but help is on the way,” Stefanik said.
