Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) launched her 2026 gubernatorial campaign Friday, pledging to “clean up Kathy Hochul’s catastrophe” and make New York “safe and affordable” if elected to Albany.

“Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America,” Stefanik said in a statement on X.

“Under her failed leadership, New York is the most unaffordable state in the nation with the highest taxes, highest energy, utilities, rent, and grocery bills. When New Yorkers were looking for leadership from our governor, she bent the knee to the raging defund the police, tax hiking communist causing catastrophe for New York families.”

“I am running for Governor to make New York affordable and safe for all,” she added.   

In her dramatic campaign kickoff video first obtained by The Post, Stefanik doubled down, saying the Empire State had “fallen” under Hochul’s reign.    

Imagery of Hochul juxtaposed with bleak headlines describing New York’s high tax rates, migrant crime and the “exodus of middle-class” residents mark the first 60 seconds or so of the two-and-a-half-minute video. 

“Kathy Hochul’s failed policies are to blame,” the narrator states, arguing that the Democratic incumbent has made New York “the most unaffordable state in the nation, crushing families with sky-high taxes, unaffordable rent, soaring energy costs and record-high grocery bills.” 

Stefanik’s video slams the governor’s support for New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, accusing her of having “cozied up” to a “defund-the-police, tax-hiking, antisemitic Communist.” 

The launch video, titled, “From the Ashes,” asserts that “New York will rise, like we always do,” with Stefanik in charge.   

“The spirit of the Empire State cannot be broken. All we need is a courageous leader ready for the fight,” the ad continues. “Elise Stefanik will make New York affordable and safe.” 

Stefanik is described as a “working mom, congresswoman and fighter,” who “knows families need more help.” 

“She’ll make New York affordable,” the narrator reiterates. “Elise will reduce your energy utility and grocery bills.” 

The video alludes to Stefanik’s successful effort to increase the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000, and her fierce questioning of university presidents on Capitol Hill amid a spate of antisemitic incidents on college campuses in recent years.  

“She fought woke insanity in our schools, stood proudly with law enforcement, championed small businesses and will never back down from fighting for New York families,” the narrator continues. 

“With everything on the line, we need someone who will deliver results and make New York affordable and safe for families and small businesses, to not just survive, but thrive.”  

The video promises voters that Stefanik will “restore New York’s greatness,” and concludes with her apparent campaign motto: “Elise Stefanik for governor. It’s time to save New York.”

“We have crisscrossed the state. The overwhelming outpouring of support from Republicans, independents and Democrats is that we need a new governor to save our state,” Stefanik told The Post Thursday. 

Stefanik has been eagerly prepping a Hochul challenge, assembling an “all-star” team of New York-native strategists and staff in key regions — as polls have started showing her neck and neck against the Democratic incumbent in a hypothetical showdown.

The high-profile upstate congresswoman — a fierce ally of President Trump — is seeking to become the first Republican leader of the Empire State in 20 years.

New York GOP Chair Ed Cox was quick to hail Stefanik’s gubernatorial campaign, describing her as a “unifier and party builder with the brains, the guts and the resources” to win.

“She has fought for our principles every day of her career and never backs down. She is the warrior we need to lead the fight against Democrats’ corrupt Albany machine,” he said in a statement.

“Thanks to Kathy Hochul and Democrats, New York leads the nation in outmigration as the most taxed, least free, least affordable state in America. There will not be a Republican primary and a year from now, Elise will lead our team to victory over Kathy Hochul, end one-party Democrat rule, and make New York affordable again.” 

Former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican who left office in 2006, also endorsed Stefanik, saying she was the candidate to “make New York affordable and competitive again.”

“Elise Stefanik represents the kind of change New York desperately needs,” Pataki said in a statement later Friday.

“For too long, our state has been heading in the wrong direction — taxes too high, costs out of control, and families leaving in record numbers,” he said. “Elise has the energy, toughness, and vision to turn things around and make New York affordable and competitive again. The urgency of her candidacy could not be clearer after the election of an openly devout socialist to lead the world’s greatest city.”