New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Friday slammed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for “endangering her own constituents’ lives, health, and jobs” by supporting President Trump’s megabill.
The social media squabble comes just a day after The Hill reported that Stefanik is preparing to officially launch her campaign for governor.
Hochul claimed the GOP “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act” would put five hospitals in Stefanik’s district on the chopping block , citing an analysis from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
The GOP lawmaker hit back in a lengthy post on the social media platform X, labeling Hochul the “worst governor in America” with the “worst run Medicaid program.”
“Hi @KathyHochul ! Welcome to the fight,” Stefanik wrote.
“You didn’t get exposed enough during our last round when you testified and were totally exposed for your dangerous and failed sanctuary state policies ??” she added, referring to the two’s standoff earlier this month during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.
Stefanik dug into the governor for allegedly harboring illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the state.
“Kathy gives Medicaid to ILLEGALS putting New Yorkers most vulnerable LAST. NY’s Medicaid program is rampant with tens of billions of waste, fraud, and abuse under Kathy’s watch,” Stefanik wrote in her Friday post.
“Oh and Kathy, your numbers in rural NY are plummeting (just like they are everywhere else). I have been nationally recognized as the TOP advocate to deliver results for rural hospitals due to my work for hospitals in my district,” she continued.
Stefanik, has yet to officially announce her challenge on Hochul’s seat in 2026, but sources familiar with the New York Republican’s plans say her announcement is forthcoming.
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” one source previously told The Hill, adding that Stefanik will announce “at the time and place” of her choosing.
