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Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a prominent Trump supporter who is speculated to be considering a gubernatorial campaign in 2026, sharply criticized New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. She labeled Hochul the “worst governor in America” after the governor criticized her for Medicaid reductions.
On Friday, Hochul took to social media to accuse Stefanik of voting in a way that would threaten five hospitals in her district, jeopardizing the lives, health, and jobs of her own constituents, all in favor of Donald Trump.
“I won’t stand for it. Iâm fighting like hell to save New Yorkers’ health care,” said Hochul.
In response, Stefanik posted on X, “Hi @KathyHochul! Welcome to the fight.”
“Weren’t you sufficiently exposed during our last session when you testified and your risky and unsuccessful sanctuary state policies were laid bare? Let’s now address Medicaid,” she wrote.
Stefanik slammed Hochul for giving Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants, “putting New Yorkers most vulnerable LAST.”
“NYâs Medicaid program is rampant with tens of billions of waste, fraud, and abuse under Kathyâs watch,” she wrote.
“Kathy Hochul, the Worst Governor in America oversees the worst run Medicaid program in the country harming NYers. Medicaid is an incredibly important program that I have worked to strengthen for New Yorkers.”
The New York congresswoman then added, “Oh and Kathy, your numbers in rural NY are plummeting” and “I have been nationally recognized as the TOP advocate to deliver results for rural hospitals due to my work for hospitals in my district.”
In another post, Stefanik said, “Oh Kathy. Iâm glad I set your schedule these days – from setting your Tweet schedule by forcing you to tweet on the Communist Mayor who just won in your Democrat Party in NYC. To you now scrambling to go to Saranac Lake because of news articles. When I have an announcement to make, believe me youâll know.”
This comes after Stefanik pressured Hochul to say whether she supported the new Democratic nominee for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has made controversial statements criticizing Israel and promoting Palestine and who identifies as a Democratic Socialist.
Hochul has since said she plans to meet with Mamdani to discuss his ideas for the city but has not yet issued a full endorsement.
Stefanik has said that as the leader of the New York Democratic Party, Hochul “fully embraced the antisemitic, Communist nominee,” adding, “she owns this catastrophe.”
Earlier this month, Stefanik told a Republican crowd in Staten Island she was “strongly considering” entering the race for governor.
She unveiled a new state political action committee, Save New York, which appears aimed at further cementing her status as a heavyweight in Empire State GOP politics.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
