Churchill: Yes, Elise Stefanik could beat Kathy Hochul

[Du916]

Any Republican considering a run for governor here knows the odds are long and the pitfalls are numerous. And Stefanik, 40, would be giving up a safe congressional seat and GOP leadership positions. It’s fair to wonder if the risk would be worth taking.

But Stefanik is the best-known Republican in the state, which means it’s natural she would eye a run for governor. And she can make a good case for her chances.

She’d be facing a deeply unpopular Democrat, assuming Gov. Kathy Hochul is the nominee. In a new Marist poll in which voters express deep dissatisfaction with just about everything, nearly 60% of New Yorkers don’t want the governor to run for reelection, and just 9% think the Democrat is doing an excellent job..

https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-yes-elise-stefanik-beat-kathy-hochul-20282977.php

[LymphocyteLover]

1. well, that is unfortunate

[displacedvermoter]

2. The State Legislature would eat Stefanik for lunch

[dutch777]

3. Doubt Stefanik's chances even against a weakened Hochul. Who do the Dems have on the option list?

[Du916]

4. Hochul will be primaried.

Cuomo will endorse Ritchie Torres, who will primary Hochul, and Lt. Gov. Delgado wouldn’t endorse Hochul and is likely to primary her as well. If Hochul doesn’t run, also expect Tish James to jump into the race. Hochul should not run.

[dutch777]

6. Thanks. If her numbers are that bad, I would hope she does bow out. We have seen what staying in too late does.

NY is such an interesting state. The political dynamic between Albany and NYC and NYC and the rest of that huge state is really something. It is much more than urban vs. suburban or rural. He in PA we certainly have differences but they seem pretty laid back in comparison.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. why is she unpopular? /nt

[Du916]

7. "Feckless" and "ineffective"

Are words I hear around Albany quite often. She gets crushed in Long Island, and did relatively poorly in NYC during the last general election. I don’t agree that Stefanik would beat her -- Stefanik is just too Trumpy. But a moderate Republican in the mold of Pataki who is not full-on MAGA would beat her. I’m just not sure there are any more of those left in the Republican Party.