New York Rep. Elise Stefanik aims to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year's elections — and survive a tough midterm environment — by targeting New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as much as her actual opponents.
Why it matters: Stefanik's gambit pulls back the curtain on a big part of Republicans' emerging 2026 strategy — weather President Trump's growing unpopularity by casting Democrats as socialists in Mamdani's mold.
