Erika Kirk receives inaugural legacy award honoring late husband at Patriot Awards

Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk accepted the inaugural Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at the 2025 Fox Nation Patriot Awards. 

In a somber moment, she reflected on her late husband and his enduring vision for the nation.

“Charlie would always tell myself and others that America is worth fighting for, and it is, always will be,” she said Thursday night in Brookville, New York.

ERIKA KIRK REVEALS HEARTBREAKING EXCHANGE WITH VETERAN POLICE OFFICER AFTER HUSBAND’S ASSASSINATION

Erika Kirk is the first recipient of the award, which honors individuals who champion her late husband’s values of freedom of speech, faith and family. Since his death, Kirk has worked to carry on her late husband’s mission, leading the group he started over a decade ago. She recalled one of his favorite sayings.

“‘It’s not how I’m saying it that’s upsetting people. It’s the fact that I’m saying the truth that’s upsetting people,'” she said. 

Charlie Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 on the campus of Utah Valley University. He is survived by two young children and would have celebrated his 32nd birthday in October.

Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA at just 18 years old, launching a movement aimed at promoting conservative values to young Americans. That mission often took him to college campuses, where he spoke with students.

ERIKA KIRK REFLECTS ON LIFE, LOSS AND FAITH IN FIRST TV INTERVIEW SINCE CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH

Erika Kirk followed that example, speaking at the University of Mississippi to a packed house only weeks after her husband’s death.

“Evil wins when good people stay silent,” Kirk said as she accepted the award, vowing to never stop speaking out. 

“And, so, for the rest of my life, I will make sure that I don’t stay silent. I’ll keep speaking the truth, no matter the cost.”

Erika Kirk was “unanimously elected” as the new CEO and chair of Turning Point USA’s board, according to a statement from the organization.

“It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side,” wrote Turning Point USA. 

“And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”

FOX NATION 2025 PATRIOT AWARDS TO HONOR FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, ERIKA KIRK IN NEW YORK

Country star Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Aldean, joined Fox News host Jesse Watters to present Kirk with the award. The honor will become a permanent part of the Patriot Awards.

Erika Kirk sat down for an exclusive interview with Watters, where she discussed learning of her husband’s death, the upcoming trial and her new leadership role.

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Other award categories at the ceremony included Young Patriot, Heroism, the T2T Stephen Siller Award, Most Valuable Patriot and Salute to Service.

Since the ceremony’s debut in 2019, the Patriot Awards have become one of Fox Nation’s most anticipated annual events, celebrating unity, service and patriotism.

Benjamin Hall unveils ‘Honor Award’ at Patriot Awards — and shares his own story of survival

Fox News senior correspondent Benjamin Hall and Fox News co-host Johnny “Joey” Jones presented the first-ever “Honor Award” at Thursday’s Patriot Awards in Brookville, New York. For Hall, the backstory behind the award’s name holds deep personal meaning for him.

Hall was severely injured while covering the war in Ukraine in March 2022. The car he and his crew were traveling in was hit by Russian missiles outside Kyiv.

Two were killed in the attack, Fox News photojournalist Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. It left Hall fighting for his life.

ZELENSKYY TALKS ISRAEL, US ELECTIONS WITH FOX’S BENJAMIN HALL, AND UKRAINE’S PLACE AMONG ‘GLOBAL RISKS’

The “Honor Award” is named after Hall’s daughter, Honor, whose voice he credits with giving him the strength to survive that day.

“It was her voice that gave me the strength I needed, gave me the willpower I needed. Gave me more focus than I’d ever had in my life. And that saved me,” said Hall in a video about the moment.

Hall said that during the missile attack, he blacked out from his injuries. He described hearing a life-changing voice that pulled him back into consciousness and got him to safety.

That same spirit of courage and resilience inspired the recipient of the first-ever “Honor Award,” American-Israeli dual citizen Edan Alexander.

Alexander, a New Jersey native, was kidnapped by Hamas and held for nearly 600 days. He officially returned home in June, but has since moved back to Israel to continue serving in the Israel Defense Forces. 

“Serving Israel and standing with America remains the greatest privilege of my life,” said Alexander in a video message at the award ceremony on Thursday. 

Hall reflected on his own near-death experience and the meaning behind the award.

“I was almost gone, and I saw my daughter, Honor. She was 6 years old, and she was in front of me, and into the blackness, there she was — Honor,” Hall said Thursday on “Fox & Friends.”

“She said, ‘Daddy, Daddy, you’ve got to get out of the car. You’ve got to get out of the car,’ and she brought me back,” Hall continued, crediting his daughter for saving his life.

He expressed gratitude to God at that moment, for providing him with the voice he needed to hear.

“God sends you what you need to see when you’re in the worst scenarios, and He sent me my daughter, Honor,” Hall said.

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Since the accident, Hall has undergone dozens of surgeries. He returned to Ukraine for the first time since the attack in 2023 for a sit-down interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This year’s ceremony also introduced a new award honoring the late Charlie Kirk. The prize will recognize individuals who champion the values Kirk stood for, including free speech, faith and family.

Senate Republicans develop new funding plan to end historic government shutdown

It’s not an agreement. Just a plan.

But the political ice which has frozen lawmakers and closed the government for 37 days is softening.

Just barely.

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO WHERE WE STAND WITH A POTENTIAL BREAK IN THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

“There seems to be some indication of a thaw,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Let’s face it:

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are skittish about the shutdown. They’re agonizing about aviation. There’s increasing worry among bipartisan lawmakers about federal workers not getting paid and the cessation of emergency food benefits known as SNAP. Everyone wants a deal. However, no one knows where to find one.

Any agreement will be about the math. But lawmakers are locked in this shutdown box and can’t find the combination to escape.

That’s why it’s significant there are at least attempts to turn the wheels of Congress to open the government. But that may take a while.

That’s why it’s notable that, for the first time since October 1, lawmakers are even attempting to turn the gears of government back on.

“I’m optimistic that we should get something done this week,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. “I think there’s a path forward here.”

Back on Tuesday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., believed the Senate would vote soon.

“I think it probably could happen Thursday. It might be pushed until Friday. But more than likely Thursday,” said Mullin.

But the Oklahoma Republican offered this caveat.

“I’m just making assumptions,” cautioned Mullin.

OVER ONE MONTH INTO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND NO END IN SIGHT – BUT PREDICTIONS RUN RAMPANT

This is the government shutdown of 2025. And no one knows anything.

Mullin was back on FOX Business on Wednesday, recalibrating what he said a day earlier.

“There’s been a group working in a very strong bipartisan manner, saying once this election is over, we’re going to reopen. And then today, they came back with some of the most ridiculous demands to take authority away from President Trump – wanting us as a Senate to guarantee what the House can and can’t do. And it’s just not feasible,” said Mullin.

Republicans have long known that the House-passed interim spending bill (from September 19) simply doesn’t work anymore. Even if the Senate were to align with the House, that legislation only funds the government through November 21. And that would deposit Congress right back where it started on October 1 with a shutdown.

So Republicans began eyeing a longer temporary spending bill running through late January.

“We’ve lost five weeks. So the November 21st, deadline no longer makes a lot of sense,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., referring to the end date of the original spending bill – still not passed by the Senate.

But Republicans need buy-in from Democrats to break a filibuster on any bill to terminate the record-breaking shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was circumspect when asked what Democrats might support after a lengthy lunch meeting of Democratic senators on Tuesday.

“We had a very good caucus and we’re exploring all the options,” was Schumer’s anodyne reply.

SHUTDOWN SEEN FROM THE PULPIT: INCHING ALONG ON A WING AND A PRAYER

But despite discussions, no one is exactly sure what could court Democratic votes. Especially since Republicans aren’t relenting.

“It seems they’re pretty dug in and they’re okay, screwing people over on their healthcare,” said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.

Schumer and a group of Senate Democrats incensed House liberals when they helped the GOP avoid a filibuster on a bill to fund the government in March. So it’s natural that House Democrats are leery of getting burned again.

“How much skepticism would there be from House Democrats on any sort of agreement that would come from the Senate?” yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

“We said from the very beginning that we will evaluate in good faith any bipartisan agreement that emerges from the Senate,” said Jeffries.

And that’s why the government likely remains shuttered for a while – even though there are bona fide efforts to solve the crisis.

“I don’t think any of us expected that it would drag on this long,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

But on Thursday, Senate Republicans developed a new plan which they hoped might end the government shutdown.

Or at least liquefy the ice a little more.

OPTIMISM FADES AS SENATE DEMOCRATS DIG IN, HOLD OUT OVER OBAMACARE DEMANDS

Republicans are challenging Democrats to block a test vote on a new gambit which would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, the Department of Agriculture and Congress itself. That represents three of the 12 federal spending areas which Congress must approve each year. This plan would fund those three sectors until September 30, 2026. Lawmakers would attach another Band-Aid spending bill for the rest of the government until late January. But it was unclear if Democrats would go along.

“I’m less optimistic this morning than I was yesterday,” said Johnson. “What I understand is that Chuck Schumer has pulled them back from that and that they’re being instructed and told they can’t go there.”

And progressives are again leaning on Schumer.

Especially after his decision to help fund the government in March.

“He’s got to keep doing it and we’ve got to deliver a win because we can’t have what happened in the spring happen again,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to colleague Aishah Hasnie.

Democrats are invigorated after Tuesday’s election results.

“There is no reason to surrender now. Every reason to stand firm,” said Blumenthal. “The message of Tuesday simply confirms what we’ve been hearing again and again and again.”

The plan could include an agreement to hold a vote by a particular date in the future related to healthcare subsidies. That’s the Democrats’ key request. But Democrats want more: a guarantee that Congress will offset spiking ObamaCare costs.

With the House not voting since September 19, Democrats are turning to political guerrilla tactics to make their points about the shutdown.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., showed up at a press conference by the House Republican leadership on Wednesday and hectored Johnson. U.S. Capitol Police tried to remove Houlahan – until they realized she was a member of Congress.

Johnson called Houlahan’s interruption “beneath her.”

TRAVEL INDUSTRY SOUNDS ALARM OVER HOW SHUTDOWN WILL IMPACT AMERICANS AHEAD OF THANKSGIVING

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., set up a table outside the speaker’s office on Thursday afternoon, promising to answer questions, discuss healthcare and the Epstein files. Ansari says Capitol Police told her she could “get arrested if the table’s not moved.”

Ansari hawked healthcare subsidies as the nation’s air traffic controllers continue to work without paychecks.

“They’re heroes. They keep us safe every single day,” said Ansari of the controllers.

But she added a caveat: 

“Is it more important than 24 million Americans losing their health insurance or not being able to afford their rent?” asked Ansari. “No.”

Aviation concerns are gripping the nation. But only one Republican is saying out loud what everyone is thinking.

“All it takes is one little accident. And if people die?” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. “So air travel is nothing to mess around with.”

Even if the Senate votes this week, few expect an immediate breakthrough.

“My hopes and expectations are always that we’re going to have enough Democrats to actually proceed. But I don’t know. We’ll see,” said Thune. “The Dems are having a hard time taking yes for an answer.”

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., offered his own time frame.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY PREDICTS HOW LONG SHUTDOWN WILL LAST, SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE STILL ‘STAMPING THEIR LITTLE FEET’

“We’re at least seven days and more likely ten and very possibly two weeks away from opening up at best,” said Kennedy.

Democrats are split as to what they want to do. Still, many want an off-ramp. And progressives are ready to rage if moderate Democrats burn them again.

So we are far from the end of the government shutdown saga. But we’re not at the beginning anymore. Perhaps that’s solace to those tracking the shutdown.

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After all, anything which begins – usually ends.

Eventually.

Tuesday’s blue wave couldn’t save local candidate who told GOP senator to die ‘like a dog’

The Helena, Montana city commissioner candidate who made headlines for lobbing threats and wishing a painful cancer death on Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., in an expletive-filled voicemail, failed to crack the threshold of the top 2 candidates.

Haley McKnight made national headlines earlier this week after audio of her voicemail she left for the senator in July came to light. The voicemail came from over the summer, shortly after Sheehy voted with his Republican colleagues to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax and spending package from Republicans that angered many Democrats, including McKnight, following its passage. 

“Hi, this is Haley McKnight. I’m a constituent in Helena, Montana,” McKnight started off in her voicemail, a recording of which was obtained and verified by Fox News Digital. “I just wanted to let you know that you are the most insufferable kind of coward and thief. You just stripped away healthcare for 17 million Americans, and I hope you’re really proud of that. I hope that one day you get pancreatic cancer, and it spreads throughout your body so fast that they can’t even treat you for it.”

WHAT JAY JONES’ VICTORY MEANS FOR DEMOCRATS AND THE ‘NEW ERA OF VIOLENT RHETORIC,’ ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

The anger didn’t stop there, either. During the roughly minute-long voicemail that phone logs reportedly show came on the afternoon of July 1, McKnight launches into insults about Sheehy’s fertility and his children, before warning the senator not to “meet me on the streets.”

“I hope you die in the street like a dog,” McKnight continued. “One day, you’re going to live to regret this. I hope that your children never forgive you. I hope that you are infertile. I hope that you manage to never get a boner ever again.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital, McKnight questioned the timing of her voicemail’s release, but Sheehy’s office told a local news outlet it had not been aware of the threatening voicemail sent to them over the summer until just recently.

As the headlines documenting McKnight’s expletive-filled voicemail reverberated nationally, she was gearing up for a local election Tuesday night alongside all the nationally recognized races that took place that day, including the race for Virginia and New Jersey governor, which both saw Democratic Party victories. And it wasn’t just those two races – Democrats saw a blue wave Tuesday with victories in all the high-profile races, as well as most of the lesser-known ones too. 

VIRGINIA SLAMMED FOR ‘TRULY DEMONIC’ ELECTION THAT EXCUSED POLITICAL VIOLENCE TO SPITE TRUMP, CRITICS SAY 

But that blue wave wasn’t enough to carry local candidates like McKnight to victory. She garnered only 20% of the vote, falling in third among a field of four candidates. Those who beat McKnight to obtain the two city commissioner seats up for grabs were Melinda Reed and Ben Rigby. Reed obtained 36.5% of the vote, while Rigby garnered 31.2%. The candidate who came in fourth garnered 11.5% and write-ins got 0.52% of the vote. 

Speaking to Fox News earlier in the week about her voicemail, McKnight answered “no comment” when pressed if she stood by her rhetoric. She did note that her intention was not to threaten, or hurt, the senator, but added that she believed her rage was justifiable.

“I wanted to drive home the struggles that people that I know are going through because of his policies. I think people were kind of shocked at my specificity, but these are things that are affecting people in my community,” McKnight told Fox News Digital, adding that Sheehy was spending too much time blocking the release of “the Epstein files” as opposed to understanding the struggles Montanans are going through. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to McKnight to inquire about whether she thought her voicemail had any impact on the outcome of her election. Once again, McKnight replied, “No comment.”

State Department yanks tens of thousands of visas: ‘Promises made, promises kept’

The Trump administration said it has rescinded tens of thousands of nonimmigrant visas since January, pointing to criminal activity as the primary reason.

The State Department announced Thursday that 80,000 visas have been revoked this year, noting this is more than twice the number revoked last year.

More than 8,000 student visas were among those affected.

LABOR UNIONS SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING OF VISA HOLDERS

The top reasons for these revocations were assault, theft and driving under the influence, according to the State Department. These three crimes accounted for nearly half of the revoked visas this year.

The agency said it pulled more than 16,000 visas for DUIs, more than 12,000 for assault and more than 8,000 for theft.

“Promises made, promises kept,” the State Department wrote on X, adding that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “will always put the safety and interests of the American people first.”

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO VET LEGAL IMMIGRANT APPLICANTS FOR ‘ANTI-AMERICANISM’ AND ANTISEMITISM

The State Department may revoke a visa for reasons such as indicators of an overstay, criminal activity, a threat to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization.

The administration has broadly defined support for terrorism to include criticism of U.S. support for Israel and the Jewish State’s military action and support for Palestinians. The federal government has previously used this as a justification to cancel visas.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration has searched for online posts to target foreigners for the potential rescinding of their visas.

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On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order to ensure visa holders “do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”

Over the summer, the State Department said it would start asking applicants to make their social media accounts public for government monitoring and that interviews with applicants would determine who may pose a threat to national security.

Military personnel fall ill at presidential aircraft base after opening package

A Joint Base Andrews spokesperson says several people are ill after a suspicious package was opened at Joint Base Andrews at approximately 1 p.m. Thursday. 

Base medical personnel responded immediately and treated multiple individuals who reported feeling sick, officials said. All patients were listed in stable condition and later released.

“As a precaution, the building and connecting building were evacuated, and a cordon was established around the area,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. “Joint Base Andrews first responders were dispatched to the scene, determined there were no immediate threats, and normal operations have resumed. An investigation is currently ongoing.”

US NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS ON LOCKDOWN AS ACTIVE THREAT REPORTED

Authorities have not disclosed what the package contained or what may have caused the symptoms. The base was temporarily locked down while emergency crews assessed the situation.

The base was temporarily locked down so that the installation and emergency personnel could assess the situation.

SHOOTING AT GEORGIA’S FORT STEWART INJURES 5 SOLDIERS; SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

Several of the individuals were taken to Malcolm Grow Medical Center on the base for evaluation.

Joint Base Andrews is home to Air Force One and other aircraft that support the president, vice president and senior U.S. leaders.

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Officials said the investigation remains active as they work to determine the source and nature of the package.

NFL fans mystified as Broncos survive penalty-filled nightmare against Raiders

An NFL football game technically took place on Thursday night featuring the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Broncos won the game, 10-7, but it was as ugly as it gets. The two teams combined for two touchdowns, three turnovers, 13 three-and-outs, 22 penalties for 161 yards and 14 punts. Offense was absent as Denver produced 220 total yards and Las Vegas had 188 total yards.

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NFL fans took notice and were left mystified by both teams’ performances in the matchup as it was far from the bitter AFC West battle that everyone was expecting.

Still, the Broncos picked up a big divisional win.

Bo Nix was 16-of-28 with 150 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. Running back J.K. Dobbins had 18 carries for 77 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Troy Franklin had five catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.

For the Raiders, quarterback Geno Smith was 16-of-26 with 143 passing yards and an interception. He was sacked six times.

PANTHERS RB RICO DOWDLE TURNS GOFUNDME JOKE INTO A POSITIVE CAUSE

Running back Ashton Jeanty had 60 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Tyler Lockett, who was playing his first game in the silver and black, had five catches for 44 yards.

If there was a true bright spot in the game, it was in the Raiders’ secondary. Kyu Blu Kelly had two interceptions. They were the first interceptions of his career.

A huge blocked punt by the Broncos led to a Will Lutz go-ahead field goal.

The first half was a defense-dominated punt fest. Between the two teams, there were eight punts, two touchdowns and one turnover.

A.J. Cole was the first Raiders punter to have two punts inside 2-yard line since 2011. One of Cole’s punts bounced in front of the goal line and then took a sideways trajectory before it dribbled out of bounds.

Broncos punter Jeremy Crenshaw had a couple of questionable kicks, but Denver’s defense managed to make a few stops.

The Raiders broke the ice in the first quarter after an errant Crenshaw punt. Smith led Las Vegas on an eight-play, 41-yard drive that ended with a Jeanty touchdown.

Nix and company got the offense moving on their third drive of the second quarter. He led Denver on a five-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Nix found Franklin on a 7-yard touchdown catch.

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Denver moved to 8-2 with the win. Las Vegas fell to 2-7.

Tesla shareholders make decision on Elon Musk’s $1,000,000,000,000 paycheck

Tesla shareholders voted on Thursday to approve CEO Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, which is the largest executive compensation plan on record.

Shareholders voted to approve the historic compensation package with 75% voting in favor at the company’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

Under the pay plan, which was proposed in September, Musk would receive up to about 12% of Tesla’s stock, which would be subject to restrictions and worth about $1 trillion if Tesla reaches a market capitalization of $8.5 trillion and other operational milestones over a 10-year period. Tesla’s current market valuation is about $1.45 trillion, and Musk currently owns about 13% of the company’s outstanding shares.

The revised compensation plan was put forward amid legal uncertainty over the $56 billion pay package he was awarded in 2018, which was voided by a Delaware judge in January 2024 and remains the subject of ongoing litigation.

“I’d like to just give a heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the shareholder votes,” Musk said. He also thanked the board for its “immense support” and said that while many corporate shareholder meetings are boring, Tesla’s “are bangers.”

TESLA COULD LOSE MUSK IF $1T PAY PACKAGE ISN’T APPROVED, BOARD CHAIR WARNS

Tesla board Chair Robyn Denholm had warned shareholders that the company could lose Musk to his other entrepreneurial pursuits if his pay package is not approved.

Denholm sent a letter to shareholders that asked, “Do you want to retain Elon as Tesla’s CEO and motivate him to drive Tesla to become the leading provider of autonomous solutions and the most valuable company in the world?”

“If we fail to foster an environment that motivates Elon to achieve great things through an equitable pay-for-performance plan, we run the risk that he gives up his executive position, and Tesla may lose his time, talent and vision, which have been essential to delivering extraordinary shareholder returns,” Denholm added.

MUSK PLEADS WITH TESLA INVESTORS TO APPROVE HIS MASSIVE $1T PAY PACKAGE DEAL

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
TSLA	TESLA INC.	445.91	-16.16	-3.50%

Musk took a moment on Tesla’s latest earnings call to urge shareholders to approve the package as he wants enough voting control “to give a strong influence, but not so much that I can’t be fired if I go insane.”

Not all Tesla shareholders are going to support the pay package, and one investor with a sizable stake in the company signaled opposition to the plan in advance of the vote.

MUSK TEASES TESLA FLYING CAR: ‘CRAZY TECHNOLOGY’

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Tesla’s sixth-largest external investor, said it would vote against the compensation plan.

“While we appreciate the significant value created under Mr. Musk’s visionary role, we are concerned about the total size of the award, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk — consistent with our views on executive compensation,” Norges Bank Investment Management said in a post on its website.

Proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and ISS urged shareholders to reject the pay package.

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Last year, Tesla shareholders were asked to vote on reinstating his $56 billion pay package from 2018, and they obliged, with about 77% of shareholders in favor. The pay package was worth about $44 billion at the time of the shareholder vote due to declines in Tesla’s stock price.

Tesla shares have gained over 17% this year. 

Elise Stefanik to launch Republican bid for New York governor against Kathy Hochul

Rep. Elise Stefanik will officially launch her long-anticipated campaign for New York governor on Friday, entering the 2026 race as a Republican challenger to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, multiple sources confirmed to Fox News on Thursday.

Stefanik, a top House Republican and one of former President Donald Trump’s closest allies, represents a conservative-leaning district in upstate New York and has been weighing a gubernatorial run for months.

“It will be very, very soon and people are very excited,” Stefanik said Thursday in an interview on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”

“There’s been an outpouring of support from Republicans, Democrats, independents, all across our great state,” Stefanik touted. “Many Democrats who previously supported Kathy Hochul are lining up in support.”

STEFANIK WRITING NEW BOOK AMID GUBERNATORIAL RUN BUZZ

Stefanik, a member of the House Republican leadership, for months has repeatedly charged that Hochul is “the worst governor in America.”

And Stefanik has blasted Hochul over the governor’s endorsement earlier this autumn of Zohran Mamdani, who this week was elected mayor of New York City. 

REPUBLICANS AIM TO LINK VULERNABLE DEMOCRATS TO MAMDANI

“People are looking for strong, commonsense leadership to be a check on this radical insanity that we’re seeing play out in New York City with Zohran Mamdani as a tax-hiking, defund the police, antisemite socialist,” Stefanik said in her Fox News interview, again linking Hochul to the progressive mayor-elect.

Stefanik, who once criticized Trump, has since become one of his staunchest defenders in Congress.

After Trump’s White House victory last year, he briefly considered naming Stefanik U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but ultimately backed off amid concerns that her departure would shrink the GOP’s razor-thin House majority.

It has been more than two decades since a Republican last won a New York gubernatorial race. The last was former Gov. George Pataki’s re-election in 2002.

COULD THIS TRUMP ALLY BREAK THE GOP’S 20-YEAR LOSING STREAK IN THIS KEY STATE?

Hochul, meanwhile, could face a tough re-election fight.

A former lieutenant governor, Hochul took office in 2021 after Democrat Andrew Cuomo resigned amid multiple scandals.

She defeated then-Rep. Lee Zeldin by just over six points in 2022 to win a full four-year term. But Zeldin’s showing was the best by a Republican gubernatorial nominee since Pataki won re-election to a third term in 2002.

Meanwhile, Trump, who lost New York by 23 points in the 2020 presidential election, trimmed his deficit by 10 points last November.

Hochul, a moderate Democrat from Buffalo, is facing a primary challenge from New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, in a very rare move by a lieutenant governor to primary challenge a sitting incumbent.

Stefanik is expected to hammer Hochul as she focuses her campaign on the issue of affordability.

“People are very concerned about affordability and I have a strong record of delivering for families,” she highlighted in her Fox News interview.

And she charged that Hochul had made New York “the most unaffordable state in the nation. We have the highest taxes, the highest energy prices, the highest utility prices, the highest grocery prices, and rent that continues to skyrocket.”

Democrats notched double-digit victories this week in New Jersey and Virginia, emphasizing affordability as a top issue. Stefanik said those results show Republicans must put forward a clear economic vision.

“You have to have a vision, and you have to put forth policies to make your state affordable again,” she said. “We are going to win the affordability message because her [Hochul] record is making it the most unaffordable state in the nation.”

But New York State Democratic Party Spokesperson Addison Dick charged that “Elise Stefanik is a rubber stamp in Washington for Trump’s deeply unpopular agenda that is raising costs, gutting health care, and defunding New York schools, hospitals, and police.”

And Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe charged that “from gutting health care to backing cost-raising tariffs, Stefanik’s record as Trump’s cheerleader in chief could not be more toxic with New York voters.”

Earlier this year, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York seriously mulled a run for governor. But Lawler announced in July that he would seek re-election and forgo a gubernatorial run.

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Stefanik, however, has already begun assembling a seasoned campaign team that includes veteran Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, who served as chief pollster for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

But Stefanik may not have the Republican nomination to herself. 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Trump ally who was re-elected this week, may be eyeing a run for governor, GOP sources in New York confirmed to Fox News.