Polling last month showed Hochul maintaining a solid lead over both Stefanik and Blakeman, though more than half of New Yorkers said they would prefer new leadership in Albany.
While she is bowing out of electoral politics — at least for now — Stefanik is expected to serve out the remainder of her term, which runs through January 2027. Her allies say she is likely to remain influential in national Republican politics and could return to a future role in a second Trump administration.
