Elise Stefanik
Elise Stefanik | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Owens |
| Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office May 14, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Leader |
|
| Preceded by | Liz Cheney |
| Succeeded by | Lisa McClain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elise Marie Stefanik July 2, 1984 Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Matthew Manda (m. 2017) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Naval War College |
| Signature | |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Elise Marie Stefanik (/stəˈfɑːnɪk/ stə-FAH-nik; born July 2, 1984) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 21st congressional district since 2015. As chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, she was the fourth-ranking House Republican. Stefanik's district covers most of the North Country and the Adirondack Mountains as well as some of the outer suburbs of Utica. In addition to being the first woman to occupy her House seat, Stefanik was 30 years of age when first elected to the House in 2014; at the time, she was the youngest woman in history to be elected to Congress.
Stefanik was elected as a moderate Republican. However, she has since moved considerably towards the right, as she aligned herself with President Donald Trump during his first term in office. She strongly opposed the first impeachment of Trump in 2019 amid the Trump–Ukraine scandal and backed Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, objecting to Pennsylvania's electoral votes after Trump supporters were involved in the 2021 United States Capitol attack. Stefanik was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in May 2021 after incumbent Liz Cheney was removed due to her opposition to then-former president Trump.
Known for her pro-Israel beliefs, Stefanik gained national attention in December 2023 for her intense questioning of university presidents during a widely televised U.S. congressional hearing on antisemitism. Stefanik's questioning contributed to the resignation of Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania. Stefanik was awarded the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Defender of Israel Award by the Zionist Organization of America. She has supported the view that Israel has a "biblical right" to the occupied West Bank.[1]
On January 20, 2025, President Trump nominated Stefanik to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations.[2][3] However, on March 27, 2025, Stefanik's nomination was withdrawn amidst concerns about how her departure from the House would affect the thin House Republican majority.[4][5] On June 27, 2025, it was announced that Stefanik is expected to run in for the 2026 New York gubernatorial election.[6]
- ^ "Trump's UN ambassador pick says Israel has a biblical right to Judea and Samaria". Al Jazeera. January 21, 2025. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ "President Trump Announces Cabinet and Cabinet Level Appointments". The White House. January 20, 2025. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Halpert, Madeline (November 11, 2024). "Who is Elise Stefanik, Trump's pick for UN ambassador?". BBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Zanona, Melanie; Wong, Scott (March 27, 2025). "Trump pulls Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to be U.N. ambassador". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ Karni, Annie (February 24, 2025). "Stefanik's Confirmation Is on Ice as Republicans Guard Their Scant Majority". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ^ Harris, Marina (April 18, 2023). "Stefanik prepares to launch governor race". The Hill. Retrieved June 27, 2025.